Orchard Dene

House. Dating from the 16th century, with alterations in the 17th century and an 19th-century addition, it is a timber-framed building with colourwashed infill on the north side and to the street gable. The remainder is clad in coursed rubble. A north wing, constructed with wattle and daub, colourwashed and rendered, sits on a rubble plinth, forming an L-shaped house. The roofs are thatched, with a half-hipped street gable and an old tile valley between the wings. The original structure comprises three bays, with one storey plus an attic. The north wing has one bay and two storeys. A three-light casement window on the street front, and another above it, lean outwards. The north elevation features a 16th-century diamond mullion window, along with an inserted three-light window with ovolo moulded mullions on the ground floor. A door is positioned in the angle between the wings. Casement windows are found on the other elevations, although some are modern. A stack sits between the east bays and on the north gable. There is a flat-roofed addition to the east side, where some exposed timber-framing is visible. Inside, the centre bay was originally open to the roof as a hall, with smoke blackening visible on the roof timbers. An inglenook fireplace and a chamfered spine beam with run-out stops, along with joists, were inserted in the early 17th century. The parlour bay facing the road has a late 16th-century wall painting on the east wall, depicting strapwork, honeysuckle friezes, and black letter texts - a rare survival in a house of this size. Curved purlin braces are found in the roof. This is a good example of a small, late medieval hall house.