History

A late medieval cruck-framed 3-unit hall-house, with single-bay open-hall flanked by inner room to L and outer room to R. The original cross-passage entrance was either in the location of the fireplace, or on the L side of the current outer room; the dais partition was between hall and inner room. In the early C17, a timber-framed chimney breast was inserted R of centre, making a lobby-entrance; the outer room to the R was rebuilt, probably in the C18; it was originally longer. The cottage was in a neglected condition in the mid-late C20. It was restored c2000, the thatch renewed, the windows replaced, and a kitchen wing added to the rear, in place of a corrugated iron lean-to structure. Photographs before the work show a rendered front, the thatch covered in corrugated iron sheeting, and slightly projecting 2-light casement windows. During the restoration work, mortices of the original 3-light timber-mullioned windows were found; also some painted plaster, probably late C18 or early C19, where charcoal and red ochre were used for a floral design in a geometric border.

Exterior

Single-storey 3-unit cottage with lobby-entrance to R of centre. Timber framed, mostly box framing with square panels infilled with wattle and daub on a high rubble stone plinth, but including one cruck truss.Thatched roof; small red brick ridge stack. The front has 2 tiers of framing on a timber sill; the later R-hand bay is slightly set back with a lower ridge height. Entrance with boarded split doors to R of centre, reached by 3 stone steps bounded by upright wooden railings. To the L, 2 irregular 2-light wooden casements, renewed c2000; to the R, a slightly bowed, fixed 20-pane window. The W gable end has a cruck-truss, with tie beam and collar against its external face. The plinth has been heightened and widened; plain C20 barge boards. E gable end is box-framed, with tie-beam truss supporting slightly curved rafters and struts. Rear, partly seen, has a single wooden light to R of wing, and 2 small 2-light casements to L of wing, in same style as front. The L bay is slightly set back with a higher plinth. To centre, a rear wing of c2000, rendered on a brick plinth under a thatched roof with small 2-light wooden casements.

Interior

Lobby-entrance leads into hall. Timber framed side walls and partitions, including retention of some original wattle and daub panels; open roof retaining its purlins, and smoke-blackened timbers to hall. The dais partition to the L of the hall is well-preserved and retains the 2 original narrow doorways which led to the 2 inner rooms; that to the L has an arched head, now infilled with panelling; the doorway to the R is retained; slate floor. The timber-framed fireplace faces W into the former hall and is box framed with battered sides, some of the original wattle and daub infill exposed. The fireplace has a cambered timber lintel with run-out stops; inside is a large cast iron stove flanked by small boarded cupboards, and with settles in front. The cruck-truss between hall and outer room was truncated when the fireplace was inserted, with tie-beam truss to the upper level. The outer room is of small-scantling timber framing.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* as an exceptional survival of a medieval cruck-framed hall-house of relatively low status, retaining its plan-form, character and detail. The preservation of the early C17 timber-framed chimney, representing a transitional phase between open-hearth and full fireplace, is of additional special interest.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Rose Cottage, Ruthin at Wikipedia
• Rose Cottage, Ruthin official website
• Wikidata Q18161498

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
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  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
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  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
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  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings