Maypole Cottage

A house dating to circa 1450, which was remodelled circa 1600 and in the 18th century, with a further extension added circa the mid-20th century. The timber-frame is clad in brick, with a header bond of red and vitrified brick, English bond at the rear, and a hipped roof covered in clay plain tiles. A red brick axial stack with staggered shafts is present.

The original plan was for a 4-bay timber-framed house, with the two centre bays forming an open hall. A passage was originally located at the north end of the hall, flanked by a service wing to the north and a parlour to the south, each with a chamber above. Around 1600, a large brick stack was built within the north bay of the hall, replacing the original passage with a lobby entry. This stack accommodates back-to-back fireplaces. It is possible that the high end bay of the hall remained open for a time before being floored in the 17th century. Further work in the 17th century saw much of the wall framing replaced with brick and the addition of an outshut to the north end. In the mid-20th century, a wing was constructed at the rear of the north end.

The west front, with two storeys and four windows, is asymmetrical. Recessed red brick panels are positioned between the upper and lower windows; flat brick arches are above the ground floor windows. Contemporary casement windows are fitted, and a doorway to the left of centre features a plank door and a tiled canopy. The south end has a flint plinth with brickwork above in English bond. The rear east elevation also displays English bond brickwork, a section of flint, a half-dormer, a 20th-century French window and a 20th-century brick wing on the right side. The north end reveals an exposed storey post and brace on the northeast corner and a lean-to roof over the outshut.

Inside, the north service room retains large, unchamfered joists and a fireplace with a chamfered Tudor arch. The entrance lobby features a groove in the soffit of the former screen head-beam. The hall contains a fireplace with a chamfered Tudor arch timber surround and a moulded axial beam. The parlour has unchamfered joists and evidence of ladder stairs leading to a solar. A straight staircase is located in the north bay of the hall, with a 17th-century balustrade of turned balusters and a moulded rail. Wall plates, jowled posts and trusses are exposed in the chambers. Arch-braced tie-beam trusses with a central post and curved struts supporting cambered collars, clasped side purlins and curved wind-braces are present. The hall’s central truss features chamfered arch-braces and spurs in the spandrels. The hall bays are smoke-blackened, and the inserted wattle infill in the hall truss is also blackened. Common-rafter couples remain intact. The tie-beam of the hall/service end truss has been raised, and a panelled partition inserted underneath.