The How Cottage With Associated Farmbuildings

A former farmhouse, now used for storage, likely dating from the mid-17th century. It is constructed of random rubble masonry with a diminishing stone slate gable-end roof. This is a remarkably unaltered example of a cross-passage and byre plan, with the byre situated to the left (northwest) of the cross-passage. The house is built into the hillside, so the hayloft above the byre is accessible from the rear at ground level, resembling a bank barn.

The main entrance is now centrally located, potentially created when the doorway to the right of the fireplace leading in from the cross-passage was blocked. A stone half-winder stair and pantry are situated to the rear of the house within an outshut or turret, under a catslide roof. The stone chimney hood remains intact.

The front of the house has two 2-light windows from the 19th century on the first floor (one with a shuttered light and one with glazed panes). There are two similar windows on the ground floor, one on either side of the planked front door, which has strap hinges and is accessed by stone steps. An original first-floor window survives, now blocked but visible inside; it features two lights with a chamfered mullion and surround. The byre has a half-door with a wooden lintel and stone weathering, as well as a planked door to the cross-passage with strap hinges, and a first-floor opening. There is an axial stone stack with weathering, and ventilation openings to the hayloft area. A blocked first-floor window is found on the right-hand (southeast) end elevation, along with a planked door to the rear.

Inside, the large fireplace retains its original hearthstone, slate fireback, hot-ash receptacle for an oven, and some curing irons. The stone chimney hood is in its original state and has not been altered, making it comparatively rare. The ground-floor room has two chamfered ceiling beams with run-out stops. A slate ledge is present in the pantry, and slate stairs lead to a half newel.

The roof features two trusses with pegged and morticed principals at the apex, and one tie beam features a pegged collar, while the other has raking queen struts. Side purlins and a ridge piece are also present. The byre roof is similar, with one truss having queen struts and the other with a half-dovetailed collar. The corbelled chimney stack is visible from the hayloft. A roughly constructed manger is located within the byre.

The two-bay stable to the rear of The How Cottage, and the five-bay barn to the southwest of the cottage are likely contemporary buildings and are included in this listing.