4, Meadow Lane

No. 4 Meadow Lane is a cottage that was originally built as a summerhouse in 1685 and underwent alterations in the 19th century. It is constructed from ironstone ashlar and coursed ironstone rubble, topped with a plain-tile roof from the 20th century and features a brick end stack. The cottage has a one-unit plan and stands two storeys high with an attic, presenting a one-window range. The main front of the building, which faces a walled garden at the rear, is ashlar-faced and includes a central blocked door with an eared and moulded stone surround. Above the door is a large inscription panel made of red sandstone, featuring a moulded stone sill and bolection-moulded stone surround. The inscription, now worn, reads "A DEO SUNT REGES/CONSILIA PRODITORUM INANIA; DUM GEMIT AD BELGAS PERITURIS/ABSOLOM ARMIS/HANC STUDIO PACISQUE DEO/SACRAVIMUS ARCEM/PRID.IDUUM JULII MDCLXXV/M/TW". On either side of the door are upright keyed oval windows, with the left window being blank. The inscription panel is flanked by similar niches, with the rendering of the right niche incised with an eared urn. The building features a wave-moulded plinth, stop-chamfered quoins, and a stone-coped gable. The current entrance is located to the left at basement level. The elevation facing the road includes a two-light casement window at the basement, first, and attic floors, while the gable on this side has been rebuilt in red brick. This cottage was originally a summerhouse or gazebo for the walled garden of the Wards' estate, which was demolished in 1777. The inscription references John Dryden's poem 'Absolom and Achitophel', published in 1681, with Absolom in the poem representing the Duke of Hannouth. The initials on the inscription belong to Thomas and Mary Ward.