Penfold Cottage

House. It likely dates to the late 15th century, with alterations in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, and subsequent changes. Internal timber framing remains. The exterior is primarily red brick in Flemish bond, with some blue headers. The right return features earlier, thinner, orange brick in irregular English bond. The roof is tiled. The house probably began as an open-hall house with a two-bay solar cross-wing on the right. A smoke bay was added at the right end of the hall in the 16th century. A chimney was built inside the smoke bay, the right-hand wall was rebuilt, and a floor was inserted, probably in the late 16th or early 17th century. The front and left-hand walls were rebuilt in brick, likely in the late 18th century. Later additions to the rear and other changes occurred in 1926, with further additions and alterations in the late 20th century.

The garden elevation presents as a one-and-a-half storey, two-bay building. A late 20th-century glazed door is located to the left of centre, with a small window to its right. These are flanked by 1926 bay windows with leaded casements, all sheltered by a continuous hipped pent roof. Above are two three-light leaded windows set within gablets; the left window is original, but its gablet has been rebuilt. The roof is hipped at the left end. A brick ridge stack is situated near the right end, and a rebuilt brick stack appears at the left end. A late 20th-century lean-to addition on the left is not of particular interest. The right return shows an exposed timber wall plate and collar. A 1926 French window and a leaded casement window are located above. A 20th-century rear range addition is also not of special interest.

Inside, exposed timber framing is visible. On the ground floor, the left room has a large, well-cut cross-beam and the right room a spine beam with lambs tongue stops. There are chamfered joists; those in the left room have flat stops, while those in the right room have stepped cyma stops. In the right room, a large brick fireplace with a timber bressumer is present. The bressumer carries a corbel at its left end, featuring an incised lozenge and molded capital. On the first floor, a joint in the wall plate at the right end indicates the probable addition of the smoke bay. Blackened timbers and old rafters are present. The former cross-wing retains a collared queen-post roof truss, through purlins, and old rafters.