Building record 1126/0/12 - The Old Bakehouse, High Street

A C17 cottage, extended and altered in various phases through the C19 and C20.

{1} Reasons for currently not Listing the Building
Yew Tree Cottage, Guilsborough, a C17 vernacular building is not listed for the following principal reason:
* Intactness: through various phases of alteration and extension the cottage has suffered significant loss of historic fabric, of particular consequence is the loss of the early roof structure.
History
The oldest parts of Yew Tree Cottage are thought to date to the C17 and certainly vestiges of the roof structure, evident in the southern gable, attest to this date.
A planning application dating to 1964 requests a change of use from ‘The Old Bakehouse’ to a milk bottle distribution facility indicating the building was formerly a bakery for the village although no ovens or other evidence of a bakery survive inside. A letter refers to the area covered by the milk round which includes Guilsborough village (including the two schools) and a number of neighbouring villages.
The Ordnance Survey (OS) map of 1885 shows the plan of the building much as it is today but with a narrow parallel range (or wall) standing to the rear of the cottage forming a small linear courtyard between the two. The rear range and a small rectangular projection depicted on the late C19 map have been removed but the shadow of a blocked opening in the rear wall of the building may indicate its original position. Comparison with the modern OS map indicates the southern end of the building has been extended into an area that was formerly part of the building to the south.
A photograph estimated to be mid-C20 in date indicates the front porch is a late-C20 addition and that the extension to the rear is also of similar date.

Details
Yew Tree Cottage is C17 in origin extended and altered in various phases through the C19 and C20.
MATERIALS: the thickness of the walls suggests it is either cob or stone in construction but the painted render hides the core material. The central three bays of the building are thatched in reed with a slate covering on the two single storey bays (with attics) at either end. Comparison with a photograph of a mid-C20 indicates the leaded windows to the front are replacements but some leaded lights to the rear may be older. The rear extension is constructed of ironstone with a pantile roof.
PLAN: originally a rectangular, three room plan with later extensions to the southern end and rear of the building in C20 creating a truncated ‘L’ shaped plan.
EXTERIOR: a three bay, two storey cottage with single storey (with attics) wings at each end and two ridge stacks. A late C20 thatched, gabled, porch sits left of centre, housing a C20 timber and glazed door with leaded casement windows to either side. The fenestration is repeated on the first floor, recessed into the thatch. The single storey range to the north has a carriage entrance comprising a double-leaf timber-panelled door with strap hinges under an elliptical arch, defined in brick. A leaded casement window sits above to illuminate the attic space.
The rear of the building is again rendered, with a corresponding double-leaf carriage entrance at the northern end and a single leaded light window towards the southern end, adjacent to the stone built C20 extension. Vestiges of a blocked opening on the ground floor are visible in the render between the carriage entrance and the kitchen extension. A catslide roof with a pantile covering extends from the southernmost single storey wing over the extension.
Parts of the early roof structure are embedded in the apex of the gable at both ends of the two storey building.

INTERIOR: the porch provides access to an inner plank and batten door, the narrow planks, beading and door furniture suggest an early C19 date although the strap hinges are later replacements. The door leads directly into the largest of what was originally a three room building. A pair of cross beams with run-out stops are the only apparent vestiges of historic fabric but deep set window sills imply the core of the walls are of cob or stone but there is no other visible evidence to confirm this. A reproduction C17 fire surround and hearth have replaced the original fireplace.
A room to the north was lined on both the walls and ceiling with applied timber framing but no early fixtures or fittings were evident. A door in the north wall provided access to the garage with carriage doors at both ends and arched recesses along both walls.
South of the central room the original plan is less clearly defined, the southernmost room has been opened up into the southern extension and internal partitions added to create a hall and stair. A door has been punctured into the rear wall of the hall to provide access to the kitchen and utility extension to the rear. No features of historic interest are evident in either of these spaces.
On the first floor four bedrooms and two bathrooms are accessed from a rear corridor created by inserted partitions probably in the C20. No original fixtures and fittings are evident in these rooms; fitted wardrobes have been created around the chimney breasts.
Within the attic space the collar beam and tie beam relating to the original roof survive, embedded into the gable walls but this is all that survives of the early roof structure, the rest has been replaced probably when the thatch was replaced c1990.

{2} Photo dated 4th May 1963;

<1> English Heritage, Designation Advice Report, YEW TREE COTTAGE, HIGH STREET, GUILSBOROUGH (Report). SNN113190.

<2> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 25 2025 7:17PM