Building record 1168/0/13 - No.48 & 50 Cross Tree Road (The Old Reading Room and Giles Cottage)

Datestone of 1620 with Spencer coat-of-arms.

{1} Cottage. Early C17, altered C20. Coursed limestone rubble, plain-tile and thatch roof, brick internal stack. 2-storeys and attic; 2-window range. 2-unit plan. Gable end facing road is principal elevation with 4-light wood mullion and transom window to ground floor, a smaller 4-light ovolo-moulded wood mullion and transom window to 1st floor with king mullion, and 3-light ovolo-moulded wood mullion window to attic floor, all with wood lintels. Stone panel below attic window with Spencer coat-of-arms in gadrooned stone surround. Casement windows to right side with wood lintels. Entrance to rear. Interior not inspected.

{3} Analysis, plan and photographs. Suggestion that the first phase of building was the single storey structure parallel to the road with the cross-wing added later in 1620 (the cross-wing bears a datestone of 1620 showing the arms of the Spencer Family).

{4} Two undated photos and one dated 11.11.1993;

{6} Photo dated 1969;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 17/134 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> de Broise A., 2005, The Whittlewood Project: Historic Buildings Survey, Wicken (Report). SNN105037.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Wicken (Photographs). SNN114205.

<5> Woodfield, P, 2003, The Whittlewood Project: Phase 1 rapid survey of all buildings within the 12 parishes of the survey, identifying buildings that have, or are likely to have, fabric dating from before 1700 (Report). SNN116636.

<6> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive, Taken 1969 (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

May 7 2025 12:39PM