Forge Cottage

Forge Cottage is a cottage that dates back to the 15th century, with alterations in the 16th century and enlargement in the 18th century. It is rendered over rubble, with a cob rear wing and a thatched roof. The cottage features a large external stack on the left gable end and a large lateral stack to the right of the entrance with a circular chimney.

The building has a T-plan layout, likely originally an open hall house with low ground floor partitions. It has been modified into a three-cell structure with a cross passage and an adjoining smithy to the west, along with a rear wing. The cottage is one and a half storeys high and primarily features 18th to early 19th century leaded iron casements, some with quadrant stays. There are dormer windows rising from the eaves flanking the stack, a 17th century ovolo moulded mullioned window to the right, a two-light window below the eaves on the right, and a ground floor three-light window to the left of the entrance. The entrance has a plank door and a pentice porch that abuts the stack, with three steps leading up.

Although the interior has not been seen, it is said to contain a good chamfered stud and panel screen, a renewed base, and an original central elliptical headed doorway that has been blocked. There is a four-panel compartment ceiling with chamfered beams to the right of the cross passage and three pairs of tenoned jointed cruck trusses.

Adjoining to the right is the smithy, which dates from the early to mid-19th century. It is also rendered over rubble and has a double Roman tiled roof with decorative ridge tiles and a brick stack on the right gable end. The smithy features segmental headed 19th century windows flanking the entrance, a stable type door, and a lean-to addition on the right gable end. It is a rare example of a smithy that is still in use, operated by J Horrobin Esq.