Dutch Tutch and associated outbuilding

Dutch Tutch, an early-C20 holiday chalet and associated outbuilding, formerly a C19 helter skelter on Great Yarmouth Britannia Pier.

MATERIALS: constructed in timber boarding with half-timbered vertical posts. Timber eave brackets and timber detailing above and below uPVC windows. The cottage was originally built with asbestos panels but these were replaced in timber in the C20.

PLAN: the cottage is a dodecagon (12 sided) on plan with a former external staircase (now enclosed) protruding from the west side (rear of the property). The ‘sides’ are described as ‘facets’ below. The small outbuilding has six facets on the east side but is flat across the west side.

EXTERIOR: Dutch Tutch is built of timber panels with half-timbered vertical posts. It is of two storeys with a large domed fiberglass roof with wide overhanging eaves. Timber brackets support the overhanging eaves.

The front elevation (east-facing onto the river) comprises a central, double-leaf door with a multi-paned window at ground-floor level. The facets flanking the door each have a single window at ground floor but are blind on the first floor. The next facet on both sides has a window at both the ground and first floor, then the third facet from the door on each side is blind at both levels. The pattern of fenestration to the rear of the building is less regular but all windows are C21 replacement uPVC and of a consistent design. Timber drip moulds above and decorative detailing below the windows at sill level are evident throughout. An enclosed stair ‘tower’ is located on the west side of the building.

INTERIOR: the interior is architecturally simple, it is subdivided into three rooms on the ground floor; a sitting room, a kitchen and bathroom, and on the first floor are two bedrooms. The whole building including ceilings is lined in match board panelling. There is a variety of panelled doors (with associated door furniture), most of which are late-C19 in date and may be original to the building when reconstructed in 1910 but may have been introduced at different points in the building’s history. The winding timber stair, reminiscent of its original purpose as a helter skelter, sits within the enclosed stair tower. It is well lit with a window at ground floor and windows wrapping around three sides at first-floor level. This provides views across the Broads landscape and delivers a huge amount of light to the first floor.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: a small outbuilding to the north of the cottage is formed from the very top of the helter skelter but has been sliced in half, to form a flat ‘front’ elevation on the west side and six facets of the former dodecagon to the east. There are two plank and batten doors on the west side which provide access to storage sheds. The sloping roof creates deep overhanging eaves, supported on wrought iron brackets.

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 22 October 2024 to amend details in the description