Description

MORETONHAMPSTEAD CROSS STREET (south side),
SX 7586
Moretonhampstead
8/115 No. 26
-
18.11.80
GV II

Cottage, at one time divided into a pair of cottages, but possibly originally the
rear wing of a house which stood on the site of the Wesleyan Chapel (q.v.)
Circa early C17. Granite rubble with roughcast front and left (south) end walls.
Thatched roof with gabled ends, right-hand end abutting former Wesleyan Chapel has
short section of asbestos slate roof. Stone rubble axial stack to right of centre
with rendered brick shaft above ridge. Later small rendered brick stack at left
gable end.
Possibly originally the rear wing of a house that stood on the site of the Wesleyan
Chapel. It was later converted into a pair of cottages but is now one house again.
2-room plan, the right-hand room the larger; each room heated from central axial
stack with back to back fireplaces. There appears to have been a central doorway
in front of the stack forming a lobby entry, but this arrangement has been replaced
by a doorway at each end of front giving direct entry into each room.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical approximately 2/3 window range. Ground floor has C19
plank door at either end, left-hand has small simple wooden hood. The former
central doorway now has small C20 fixed light window. C19 3-light casements with
glazing bars to ground floor right of centre. Above on first floor is an C18 or
early C19 3-light window in partly blocked opening. Blocked window at centre of
first floor. Rear (west) walls is granite rubble with slight change in plane and
joint in masonry to right of stack suggests some rebuilding at south end. C20
casements at rear except for first floor left which is C19 3-light casement with
small panes.
Adjoining at south end, to left of front, is single storey link building to former
Sunday School built in 1912, and not included.
Interior: higher right-hand north room has chamfered cross beam with barred run-out
stops. Lower left-hand south room has chamfered unstopped cross beam. Right-hand
room fireplace lintel removed and left-hand room fireplace blocked with C20
fireplace. Beside stack on first floor is C17 hanging cupboard with moulded and
panelled doors with drawers below and cornice above. Another hanging cupboard
beside stack in the other room; early C18 with fielded panel doors, drawers below
and cornice above. Roof: roughly hewn collars halved and pegged to face of
principals.
This is an interesting survival of a C17 back range still retaining its thatched
roof. The 2 hanging cupboards inside are a most unusual and remarkable survival.
Hanging cupboards as furniture in regular use were unknown until the late C18.

Listing NGR: SX7543386033

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26389468

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

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6