Summary

A timber-framed two-bay cottage, constructed in the seventeenth century, with a later early-twentieth century cross-wing.

Description

A C17 timber-framed cottage of two-bays with a later C20 cross-wing.

MATERIALS: Timber-framed with painted brick infill on a painted brick plinth. The chimney stack is brick. The early C20 cross wing is brick with painted render and mock timber framing. Both ranges have a plain clay tile roof.

PLAN: A two-bay, single-depth plan orientated east to west with C20 cross wing to the east.

EXTERIOR: The C17 timber-framed range is single storey with an attic, on a brick plinth. It is box framed with bracing to some of the upper panels. There is a brick chimney stack at the ridge to the right-hand bay. The principal elevation to the south has a doorway to the right-hand bay with C18 plank and batten door with a porthole under a wooden canopy. The inside face of the door has strap hinges with elongated spear ends. Two C21 windows to the left of the doorway are fitted between the timber posts. There is a central dormer window to the attic storey. Some of the timbers show evidence of later repair work. The two-storey gable end of the C20 cross wing to the right has windows to the centre of each storey.

The gable end of the C17 range forms the west elevation. There is a C20 oriel window to the ground floor, left of centre. The window to the attic storey is framed by two queen posts and the collar beam. The wall plates, purlins, and ridge beam show signs of possible truncation. To the rear north elevation, the two-storey C20 gable end is to the left, and the C17 cottage range to the right. There is a large cross panel brace to the top right-hand panel. An C18 nine-pane window is positioned to the centre between two upright posts, a small square window to the left, and small oriel window to the right. In the roof is a skylight. A small amount of wattle and daub survives in one panel. The C20 cross wing forms the eastern elevation with a C21 single-storey lean-to extension.

INTERIOR: The main C17 range is of two-bays, with exposed timber-framing throughout. At ground floor level there is a small baffle entry with boarded hatch in the ceiling, and a small niche in the brick chimney breast. The main living room has a modern fireplace with C19 surround, and a narrow C19 cupboard to the right, with a wooden lintel set into the wall above. To the left of the fireplace is a doorway to the staircase. Two chamfered beams run parallel from the fireplace to the internal dividing wall at the west end of the room. Both beams have chamfer stops. The internal dividing wall has numerous carpenters marks visible on the timber-framing. Two doorways, positioned at either side lead into the now divided side room. The right-hand doorway has pintles set into the wooden frame suggesting the location of an earlier doorway. The cill beam has been cut through for both doorways. The C20 cross-wing contains some exposed external timbers of the east wall visible in the kitchen.

The attic floor is approached via a winder staircase to the left of the fireplace. The east wall has an exposed jowl post, with a wall plate and tie beam leading off it. The tie beam has been cut and attached to the collar beam using reused timbers, forming an opening to the first floor of the C20 cross-wing. The attic space is divided into two rooms and a passage. The chimney stack is exposed, and tampers into the ceiling. The eastern room has an exposed timber wall plate and timber framing. The cross frame divides the eastern room and passageway from the room to the west end. The room has a partially exposed roof truss with tie beam, collar beam, queen posts, and principal rafters.

In the roof space the central cross frame is visible with the remains of whitewashed wattle and daub. The principal rafters and ridge beam appear to be C17, while the common rafters may be a mix of C18 and C19 in date. The principal rafters to the east end appear blackened.

History

Walnut Cottage is a timber framed building with stylistic evidence suggesting a C17 date of construction, with possible earlier fabric evident. It appears to have originated as a two-bay, single depth range. However, evidence of possible truncation to the wall plates, purlins, and ridge beam on the west elevation could indicate a now lost bay.

The building is first depicted on the 1840 tithe map of the parish of St John in Bedwardine. The landowner at the time is recorded as Edward Griffiths, and the plot is described simply as a ‘cottage and garden’. The map also depicts a long, rectangular building south-east of the cottage, roughly in the position of the cider house (the cider house is not included in the listing).

The later two-storey cross-wing is believed to be early C20 in origin. An external brick chimney on the west elevation was removed sometime between 1962 and 1978.

The roof space has blackened principal rafters close to the chimney and later hand worked rafters which appear to be C18 in date. This may be evidence of earlier fire damage.

Reasons for Listing

Walnut Cottage is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* the cottage retains a large proportion of its C17 historic timber fabric, including joinery, chamfered beams, and internal cross frame;

* although the building has been extended with the addition of a C20 cross wing, the original range has seen little modernisation, and largely retains its original two-bay plan and appearance.

Historic interest:

* as a well-preserved, modest vernacular cottage of the C17.

Recommended Books

• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)