Furness Abbey, Former Custodian'S Cottage

Furness Abbey's former custodian's cottage is a dwelling that remains from a larger, earlier building. The roof timbers have been dendrochronologically dated to the late 15th century, while the exterior has been extensively remodeled in the late 19th century. It is constructed of coursed sandstone rubble, some of which is massive, with 19th-century dressings. The roof is made of Westmoreland slate and features a single inserted ridge stack. The building has a 2-bay plan with a 19th-century entry on the end wall and a significantly raised ground floor level.

The north elevation presents a broad gable with a central doorway beneath a shallow lintel. On either side of the doorway are 19th-century chamfered mullioned windows, with three lights to the left and two lights to the right. Above the door is a two-light window. The side walls have blocked mullioned windows at floor level and small blocked lancets at the eaves level. The west side has two 19th-century openings, while the south gable features two lean-to extensions.

Inside, much of the interior was remodeled in the 19th century, but arches to the blocked window reveals in the side walls are still visible. The roof truss against the north gable is of heavy scantling and has a cambered collar and tie beam, which appear to be smoke-blackened, as are the timbers of a central open truss. The principal rafters are supported on the ends of an interrupted tie beam with corbel supports below. The building also has double trenched purlins, although the ridge purlin has been replaced. It was previously thought to have been a water-powered mill, and its significance lies in its roof carpentry, which may be some of the earliest surviving roof timbering from the Abbey site.