18 And 20, Lower Street

DESBOROUGH

SP88SW LOWER STREET 1752/3/107 (North side) 17-MAY-91 18 AND 20

GV II House subdivided into 2 cottages. Circa late C16 or early C17, possibly remodelled circa late C17 or early C18, extended in circa late C18 or early C19, partly demolished at unknown date and extended in circa late C18 or early C19 and extended again in circa late C19 or early C20. Coursed ironstone with rendered gable ends and with brick addition. Slate roof with gabled ends. Truncated gable end stacks with brick tops.2-bay house, the right hand (east) bay is part of the original house of which its now demolished parts extended to the right (east). In circa late C18 or early C19 another bay was added on left (east) and late in C19 the eaves of the whole building were raised. In late C19 or early C20 a small extension with an outshut on its front was built on the left end. 2 storeys. 2-window south front. Circa late C19 16-pane sashes and earlier C19 20-pane sash on left of ground floor; wooden lintels. Circa late C19 or early C20 brick 2-storey 1-bay extension set back on left with single storey outshut on front. At rear (north) circa late C19 6- pane sashes on first floor, casement on left of ground floor, 20-pane sash on right with 2 doorways between, the right hand blocked, the left with plank door. Late C19 - early C20 extension on right has glazed porch. Interior: The right hand (east) room has large fireplace with chamfered timber lintel (appearrs to be rused floor beam) and small C18 cupboard inside to left with arched fielded panel door, H-hinges and shaped shelves; chamfered axial ceiling beam with stops. The back of the right hand room has been partitioned to create a small stair hall with a bolection-moulded 2-panel door beside the stair and a fielded-panel cupboard door. Roof space not inspected but it is reputed that an original truss and possibly smoke blackening may exist.