SNN109700 - 42 Main Street, East Haddon, Northamptonshire: Historic Building Recording

In July 2013 AS carried out historic building recording followed by a programme of monitoring and recording during demolition at 42 Main Street, east Haddon, Northamptonshire. The work was commissioned in order to fulfil a planning condition attached to the redevelopment of the site. Technical analysis revealed what, in its original form, would have sat comfortably with the late 17th century and 18th century buildings of the village. It comprised an original fairly modest two-cell unit built of the vernacular material of the area including lias stone and cob walling with a large chimney stack at the east end, with a steeply pitched thatched roof. It appears that shortly after construction the building was extended by a further bay to the east in similar materials but with small but marked differences in construction. This presented an interesting phase of work which reused ecclesiastical decorative stone pieces. At this time the historic core appears to have been refurbished, the ceilings rebuilt and lined out in with reed straw and plasterwork, a later application than the earlier lath and plaster seen in places. The 19th century saw a change of use of the site as a whole with the addition of the former bakehouse at the east end, which was previously demolished, as well as a further outbuilding and the coach house later in the century. Sadly the 20th century saw the re-roofing of the building and the degradation of a number of historic elements including early doorways and windows, although one early door survives at upper level. Nevertheless 42 Main Road remained an early and interesting house within the village representing the development of a modest house over time.