Dairy Cottage at Langford Fivehead

Cottage, possibly a former detached kitchen. It probably dates from the C16 and was raised and remodelled in c.1600; with some C19 alterations and an early-C20 addition.

MATERIALS: it is built of coursed local stone rubble with Hamstone dressings, under a slate roof. There is an ashlar stack to the south gable end and an off-centre ridge stack of brick. The windows are a mix of stone mullions and timber casements (several are modern replacements); all with leaded lights.

PLAN: the building has an L-shaped plan. It comprises the original three-window range and an early-C20 wing that either replaced, or is a substantial remodelling of, an earlier structure. Variations in the stonework to all four elevations of the main range suggest that the walls above first-floor sill level were raised in c.1600.

EXTERIOR: the east elevation has an irregular arrangement of windows and a central doorway with a timber lintel and late-C20 plank and batten door. Directly above is evidence of a further doorway, which has been infilled. The north return has mullioned windows to the ground and attic floors and three single-light windows that are later insertions. The west elevation has an off-centre entrance door with raised and fielded panels with flush panels to the lower part. There is a two-light mullioned window immediately to the right of the door and two four-light timber casements to the left, one with a stone hood mould. There are three mullioned windows to the first floor. The windows to the south return are timber replacements under stone hoods. The south elevation of the early-C20 addition has full-height glazing to the ground floor and a jettied upper floor that is clad in weatherboarding. Its north elevation has a timber door and two casement windows to the ground floor, above which is a four-light casement that is set high to the eaves.

INTERIOR: the earliest part of the cottage has a three-room plan, though it is unclear whether this is the result of the early-C17 remodelling. The right-hand (south) room is dominated by a large inglenook with a timber bressumer that is supported on stone jambs. The fireplace is flanked by a smoking chamber and a corn-drying kiln for which there is further evidence at first and attic levels. The lower part of the kiln was modified, probably in the C19, to create a bread oven. The fireplace in the central room is a C20 insertion, as is the staircase. The flat-chamfered ceiling beams to the ground floor have step and run-out stops; in contrast, one of the first-floor beams is deeply chamfered with an angled, straight-cut stop. The roof comprises early-C17 collared trusses with tie beams and a single row of butt purlins.