Description

TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY THE CROOK

6/58 Wat Tyler's Cottage
20.10.54
GV II

House. Probably late C15 origins, partly remodelled in the circa early C17.
Rear additions of the C18 and late C20. Framed construction, the right (west)
end of the main block underbuilt in brick, the first floor tile hung. Peg-
tile roofs; brick stacks.

Plan: The house faces north. The main block originated as a late medieval
open hall house, probably of the Wealden type, with jettied storeyed ends and
a 2-bay open hall in the centre with 2 unequal bays, the right (west) end bay
larger. The position of the original entrance is unclear, it was probably a
cross passage within the hall at the east end. in the circa early C17 a stack
was inserted, probably into the passage, and the hall was floored with a
jettied upper storey giving a lobby entrance arrangement against the stack
with a heated parlour at the left (east) end. An unheated rear left wing was
added later, probably in the C18 and in the C20 a rear right wing was added.
The ground floor partition between the 2 right hand rooms has been removed.

Exterior: 2 storeys and attic. Roof hipped with sprocketted eaves at the
left end, half-hipped at the right end. Axial stack with a probably C19 brick
shaft, C19 right end stack. Close-studded framing, most of the ground floor
timbers replacements, with a continuous jetty with a richly-moulded fascia.
The jetty returns at the left end with a massive curved bracket with a roll-
moulding. A moulded fascia board below the eaves extends across the centre of
the house only. Asymmetrical 4 window front. Probably C17 front door of
overlapping planks to the lobby entrance to left of centre in a C17 square-
headed deeply-moulded frame with large, worn, bar stops. To the right of the
front door the top and moulded cornice of a former ground floor C17 oriel or
bay window survives with a flush 4-light casement below with diamond leaded
panes. The other windows, 4 on the first floor and the 2 outer ground floor
windows are similar 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-light casements, some preserving
handmade window furniture and one on the first floor with a quadrant catch. 2
gabled attic dormers with similar casements. The left (east) return of the
main block has one first and one ground floor similar window and a blocked 2-
light ground floor mullioned window. The right return has casement windows
with glazing bars including a bay window to the wing.

Interior: Well-preserved. The roof timbers and internal carpentry of the
late medieval phase are largely intact. On the ground floor this includes a
chamfered step-stopped axial beam and exposed joists to the right hand room.
The left hand room has a dragon beam and exposed joists. A crossbeam adjacent
to the inserted stack is chamfered and step-stopped above a former doorway
from the putative passage into the room, which has been subdivided axially at
some period, although not necessarily in the medieval phase. The fireplace is
probably C17 but could be later, with a scroll-stopped lintel and brick jambs.
A trimmer in the outer rear corner of the room probably indicates the position
of a former stair. The C17 hall has a massive axial beam and chamfered
stopped joists, which also appear in the lobby. The open fireplace has a
scroll-stopped lintel and brick jambs. The first floor rooms also preserve
exposed carpentry, although some is boxed in behind later plaster. The wall-
framing is intact with massive flared jowls to the wall posts. The tie beams
have short arched braces to the posts, some are missing.

Roof: Crown post construction. The late medieval hall crown post is square
on section with chamfers, stops, a moulded base and 2 way bracing to the
collar purlin, which has been truncated by the inserted stack. The right hand
(west) crown post is plain. The rafters are concealed by later plaster.

A very complete example of a late medieval open hall house. Group value with
the converted barn and oasthouse to the north, on the other side of the road.

Listing NGR: TQ6834842246

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26541260

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

• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair