Building record 755/0/25 - Briden Cottage, 49 High Street

Cottage with possible late medieval origins. By the early 20th century it was part of a row of cottages with 47 High Street

{1} Analysis, sketch plan and photographs.

A semi-detached cottage of stone under a 1970s tiled roof. Photographic evidence of the mid 20th century shows this as part of a row of cottages with 47, all under a thatched roof. The cottage comprises three bays, the southernmost having a separate and lower roof in the early photographs. This southern bay appears subsidiary, though there is no straight joint to the front wall, attributable to rebuilding of the front wall in this area. The two principal bays have been two cottages, with a substantial chimney stack rising between them; there is approximately one and a half metres between the faces of the walls. The stack only appears to have served one cottage. The wall in the second cottage has a timber groundsill with a stone wall above it. A hearth has been inserted in the northern corner and a stair rose beside it. A beam between the post in the wall and the hearth, is supported by a samson post which has been repositioned. The beam is chamfered and the stops are stepped. Both are of a quality indicating a late medieval date, although considerable modification makes a clear interpretation unviable. The adjacent building also has timbers which might be labeled late medieval, but they are of an entirely different character.
The 1950s photographs of the top of the stair show a wind brace and a possible arch brace to the collar at this point- which would support a late medieval date.
In the mid 20th century the cottages provided accommodation for the staff at the Lodge which then stood at the southern end of the village on the plot now occupied by Lodge Park.

Although the evidence is not conclusive, 47 and 49 High Street appear to contain the earliest surviving timbers in the village.

<1> de Broise A., 2005, The Whittlewood Project: Historic Buildings Survey, Whittlebury (Report). SNN105036.

<2> 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.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 8:52AM