Building record 4701/0/6 - Orchard Cottage

{1} Cottage. Late C17/early C18, altered and extended C20. Limestone rubble, painted, thatch roof, brick ridge and end stacks. One storey and attic; 3-window range. 2-unit plan. Main front faces garden and has C20 casement windows with wood lintels, those to first floor in eyebrow dormers. C20 full-height wing to rear left; entrance to rear. Interior has elm spine beams and open fireplace with chamfered, cambered bressumer.

{3} Orchard cottage is probably of late-C17 or early-C18 date. Historic map evidence suggests that in the late-C19 and early-C20, the building was sub-divided into three cottages, attested also by the rebuilt stacks; it is uncertain when it became a single dwelling. When the cottage was listed, a two-storey C20 extension at the rear and C20 fenestration was noted. The recent inspection confirms that further, single-storey extensions have been added to the rear, a large uPVC conservatory has been added to the garden elevation and window and door openings on all elevations have been altered. Internally, there has been some remodelling of the interior spaces and the historic plan-form is now obscured. Axial bridging beams on the ground floor remain and are variably chamfered; two are co-joined by a scarf joint. The joists are mostly C20 and machine sawn, as is a single wall post supporting a bridging beam in the right-hand room where a large inglenook fireplace with chamfered bressumer remains. A late-C20 spiral staircase leads to the first floor, where some sections of wall plate are apparent; broad tie beams survive, some constructed from re-used timbers and pegged. The principal rafters are substantial; the common rafters are generally hewn from tree branches and over-painted.

{4} Undated photo, also photo dated 27/07/93;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/2 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2011, Orchard Cottage, Ashton: Initial Listing Report, (checked) (Document). SNN107376.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Ashton (Photographs). SNN111856.

Record last edited

Feb 5 2020 2:36PM