Description

SX 48 SW MARY STOW DIPPERTOWN

6/167 Yew Tree Cottage
-
II*

House. Medieval origins with C16 and C17 alterations, C20 renovations. Whitewashed
stone rubble with late C20 concrete tile roof, formerly thatched, gabled at ends. 3
stone stacks: 1 at each gable end, 1 on ridge. A 2-bay open hall house, the lower
end divided from the through passage by a tall solid partition wall. The lower end
may have been ceiled over before the hall, the hall ceiled over in the C17 when a
stack was inserted backing on to the through passage. The gable end stack to the
lower room is also inserted, probably in the late C17. The inner room has been
entirely rebuilt at first floor level and re-roofed. C20 roof added above the hall
roof. 2 storeys. 5-window front with scattered fenestration. A C20 gabled porch
leads into the through passage, a stone relieving arch immediately to the right of
the porch marks the original through passage entrance, which is blocked. 1 C20
ground floor single tier bow window, all other windows 1- 2- and 3-light C20
casements with leaded panes under timber lintels, probably preserving the original
embrasures. Rear doorway to through passage blocked.
Interior: of the medieval house 2 massive unmoulded arch braced smoke-blackened
trusses with wind braces survive, truncated above the square-set purlins. The
principals are raised crucks. An ogee-headed timber doorway from the passage to the
lower end is under a now concealed relieving stone arch above the level of the first
floor. This doorway, and a similar blocked doorway to the rear of the through
passage are probably C15. Over the lower end the 2 trusses are chamfered, the
chamfer continuing over the cambered collar, trusses formerly had trenched purlins.
These trusses do not appear to be smoke-blackened, although staining from timber
treatment makes this difficult to decide, and may have been the roof to a solar over
the lower end, or may predate the ceiling over of the lower end. The masive C17 hall
fireplace has granite jambs, the left-hand jamb altered to accommodate a brick bread
oven which no longer exists, but which formerly projected into the passage. The
unmoulded timber lintel of the fireplace is unusual, projecting out as a rough corbel
which supports an axial timber pad below the cross beam. The joists are chamfered
with ogee stops. A timber newel stair to the left of the fireplace may be an early
C18 replacement of the original stair, although the newel post appears to predate the
steps. A Caernarvon arched doorway with scratch moulding leads from the hall into
the inner room which has a massive axial beam and exposed joists, mostly replaced.
The lower end room has 1 probably C16 axial beam with a deep chamfer and run-out
stops, and a circa mid to late C17 chamfered fireplace lintel with ogee stops, jambs
rebuilt. The ceiling of the lower end room cuts across the ogee-head of the doorway
into the through passage. A high status medieval open hall house, formerly part of
the Sydenham Estate.

Listing NGR: SX4286384654

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17537328

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

• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)