Forge Cottage

Forge Cottage

A cottage with adjoining blacksmith's forge and outbuildings, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries with 18th and 19th century modifications. The forge itself is dated 1826. The buildings are constructed in coursed squared sandstone and stand in Bilsdale Midcable near Chop Gate.

The main cottage is two storeys with attached single storey outbuildings and blacksmith's forge, all under pantile roofs. Ridge end stacks are positioned at each end of the two storey house and at the outer end of the forge. The plan follows a modified longhouse form with a cross passage providing entry. The forehouse lies to the right beyond an inglenook fireplace, with a parlour beyond that. The former byre, now with a separate entry, sits to the left of the cross passage. A gabled outshut extends to the rear.

The front elevation displays two windows on each floor of the main cottage. The first floor windows are 3-over-3 unhorned vertical sashes. The ground floor has a 3-light sliding sash on the left and a wooden framed casement on the right, both with stone lintels and cills. A fire window pierces the left side of the ground floor. The entrance occupies the left side in the single storey section. Raised gable ends and prominent kneelers are distinctive features.

The single storey former cow byre has a plank half-door and a raised gable at its left end away from the house. To the right stands a single storey outhouse with wooden double doors and two half doors. The blacksmith's forge, lower than the cow byre, features a central half door with shuttered windows either side. Above the door lintel sits a date stone reading 1826 with initials W? and a carved horseshoe. Horse and ox shoes are nailed to the door.

The rear elevation shows a pitch roof single storey extension with wooden double doors in the gable end and a single door in the outshut to the left. A conservatory has been added to the right with a 20th century door and windows at the side. One ground floor sliding sash window and two first floor sliding sashes light the house rear, with one 2-over-2 vertical sash. A rear door accesses the former byre, and a shuttered window serves the forge.

The interior preserves the original cross passage entrance. A door to the right opens into the forehouse, which has a screen wall creating an inglenook fireplace with a bressumer beam featuring chamfers and stops on both sides. The chimney breast contains a 19th century range and 20th century grate, with panel doors to a wall cupboard and a fire window to the side. The walls are partly lined with tongue and groove half panelling. Plank doors lead to the parlour, pantry, and under-stair cupboard, with the cupboard door retaining L-shaped hinges. The parlour contains a 20th century fireplace. The pantry has a sliding sash window and ceiling hooks. A door from the forehouse accesses the rear kitchen, fitted with 20th century casements and side door.

The staircase runs behind the wall at the rear of the forehouse. The first floor contains three bedrooms and a bathroom, all displaying exposed roof timbers. Tie beams and the lower portions of principal rafters from two trusses are visible, along with the purlins running between them. The roof space is not accessible.

The blacksmith's forge interior retains the hearth and stone chimney within the end wall, now partly ruined. Bellows mounted to the left feature a pipe into the fireplace side. Evidence of blocked doors and windows survives. The building is open to the roof, exposing two trusses with slats lining the roof visible.

The house and former byre likely originated in the late 17th or early 18th century as single storey structures, with the cross passage providing access to both the byre and the two-cell house. Evidence from the windows and kneelers indicates the house portion was raised in the later 18th century to provide two full storeys. The byre's raised gable may indicate a former thatched roof. The outbuilding at the other end, formerly a pigsty, was added later, as was the forge in 1826. The kitchen extension was adapted from part of a further outbuilding to the rear in the mid 20th century, possibly a former dairy. The first floor bathroom and parlour fireplace were both inserted in the 20th century. The blacksmith operated into the 20th century. Between post-1918 and the 1930s, and again in the 1970s and 1980s, the house served as a post office.

The village pump formerly stood adjacent to the forge, and has been relocated some ten to twenty years ago a few metres to the grounds of the adjacent public house. It comprises an iron pump with spout and top handle alongside a stone trough. A stone support at the back of the pump remains in situ on the ground. A Post Office letter box is attached to a wooden post in front of the former cow byre.