Building record 767/0/8 - Nos.18 (Rosewood Cottage) and 20 (Kiln Cottage)

Pair of 18th century cottages built of coursed rubble ironstone with a thatch roof covering to No. 20 and interlocking concrete tiles to No. 18. The cottages were probably formed by the adaptation and alteration of an 18th century structure at some time in the 19th century and may have originally been four dwellings. The building has previously been known as Wisteria Cottage, Sunnyside Row and the Post Office. The building is made up of three units arranged in a curved or bent configuration. The roofs are steeply pitched and there is a series of ridge chimney stacks. Both houses have been altered internally resulting in the loss of most early fabic. The buildings were de-listed in 2010.

{1} Pair of cottages. C18, altered C20. Coursed ironstone rubble, thatch roof to No. 20, C20 ridged tiles to No. 18, brick ridge and end stacks. 2-unit plan to No. 20, 3-unit plan to No. 18. 2 storeys; 6-window range. No. 20 has C20 part-glazed door to left of centre with side light to left and wood lintel, and 2-light casement windows to ground and 1st floors with wood lintels to ground floor, stone lintels to 1st floor; 1-light window to 1st floor right with stone lintel. No. 18 has C20 part-glazed door to centre with wood lintel and 3-light casement windows to ground and 1st floors, except 2-light casement to 1st floor left. All have wood lintels. Diamond-stop-chamfered lintel to that to ground floor left. Quoins and stone-coped gable with kneelers to right. Interior: No. 18 has ogee-stop-chamfered spine beams and open fireplace with chamfered brassumer.

{3} Undated photo, also photo dated 18.04.1994.

{4} Kiln Cottage is identified in the list description as one of a pair of 18th century cottages, the other being Rosewood Cottage. The cottages in their present form were apparently formed by the adaptation and alteration of an 18th century structure at some time in the 19th century. The building was previously known as Wisteria Cottage, Sunnyside Row and the Post Office, and the present configuration of buildings may be the result of the amalgamation of a number of smaller cottages. This sequence of events appears to be confirmed by the O.S. map of 1900 which depicts a building range made up of four dwelling units. Two of the dwellings shown on the map were subsequently combined to form Kiln Cottage, whilst the northernmost part of the range is shown as two dwellings, Nos.18 and 18a.

The present list description reads: `Pair of cottages. C18, altered C20. Coursed ironstone rubble, thatch roof to No.20, C20 ridged tiles to No. 18, brick ridge and end stacks. 2-unit plan to No.20, 3-unit plan to No.15. 2 storeys; 6-window range. No.20 has C20 part-glazed door to left of centre with side light to left and wood lintel, and 2-ligh casement windows to ground and 1st floors with wood lintels to ground flour, stone lintels to 1st floor; 1-light window to Ist floor right with stone lintel No.18 has C20 part-glazed door to left of centre with wood lintel and 3-light casement windows to ground and 1st floors, except 2-light casement to 1st floor left, All have wood lintels. Diamond-stop-chamfered lintel to that to ground floor left. Bins and stone-coped gable with kneelers to right, interior: No.18 has ogee-stop-chamfered spine beams and open fireplace with chamfered brassumer'

The cottages are built of coursed rubble ironstone with a thatch roof covering to No.20 and interlocking concrete tiles to No 18. It is made up of 3 units arranged in a curved or bent configuration, perhaps suggesting an incremental development of the site at the junction of the main street and Kiln Lane leading to other dwellings to the west of Banbury Road. The roofs are steeply pitched, with a stone coping to the north gable, and a series of ridge chimney stacks. The window openings have shallow timber lintels, and two and three light casement frames, those to Kiln Cottage with multi-paned lights. The doorways are equally modest, with no architectural detailing to give them emphasis within the elevation. Both dwellings have lower rear wings. The sole reference to the building interiors is that relating to spine beams and a fireplace with a chamfered bressumer within No.18, all other references being to elements of the front elevation.Since the time of listing, the interior of No. 20 has been completely remodelled, and a rear extension added at the southern end. The present front elevation remains as described in the List, but the interior is now made up of new timber-framed partitions, spine beams, ceiling joists, hearths, staircase, fixtures and fittings. The remains of two early roof trusses survive, with curved principals trenched to carry now-removed single purlins and with the truss apexes notched to carry a square-set ridge purlin, also now removed. The roof structure above appears to have been renewed, and the original timbers now fulfil no structural role. Apart from these timbers, and exposed areas of interior stonework there are no other elements of original building fabric now visible. No.18 shares much of the external detailing of No.20, but has an interlocking concrete tile roof covering and stone copings to the north gable. It too has been the subject of careful internal renewal, extension and internal remodelling which has included the removal of internal ground floor partitions. This has created a large open plan ground floor room at the north end which retains the chamfered beams, hearth bressumer and open fireplace mentioned in the list description. Within the attic are two circa C18 roof trusses, now supplemented by more recent strengthening timbers, all of which support 20th century replacement rafters and purlins, presumed to have been introduced when the earlier roof covering was replaced by the existing concrete tiles.

No18 (Kiln Cottage) and No.20 Banbury Road,Litchborough are recommended for de-listing for the following principal reasons:

* Architectural Interest: The building is of modest architectural interest, as distinctive internal characteristics representative of significant regional vernacular building traditions have been removed.
* Alteration: The building has undergone significant levels of alteration since the time of listing , most noticably those to the interiors of both dwellings, which have resulted in the loss of most early fabric and the erosion of the special interest.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/115 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F09 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Photographs of buildings in Litchborough (Photographs). SNN112601.

<4> ENGISH HERITAGE, English Heritage Listing File, Heritage Protection Adviser, 8th January 2010 (Report). SNN111579.

Record last edited

Mar 20 2025 4:16PM