Description

HORWOOD HORWOOD SS 52 NW 4/58 Hoopers Cottage (formerly 25.2.65 listed as "The Cottage") GV II*

House, c.1600, extended c.1935 and again c.1972. Unrendered stone rubble with cob to the upper storey. Thatch roof hipped at left end, gable end to right. Tall front lateral hall stack of stone rubble with drip and tapered cap. C20 stone rubble stack in C17 style with tapered cap set just off the ridge towards left end. Interesting and unusual plan to the original range at right end which is of 2 rooms with a lobby entry. The hall has a front lateral stack to right with integral stair turret beside it to the left. To the lower left end of the front of the hall is the entrance into a lobby, an axial screen creating a small second room to the rear of the lobby, with entry to this room being via the hall. The earlier C20 extension added 2 rooms and a further staircase to the left lower end of the original range with a further short bay added at the left end c.1972, all in a similar style to the original range. 2 storeys. 5-window range, the left-hand front corner splayed. C20 range has 2- and 3-light casements, 8 panes per light. The older core has a small C17 square timber window with central glazing bar, and pintles surviving for internal shutter, above a tiled canopy to chamfered Tudor-arched door surround with old framed and ledged 3-plank door with old lock. To its right, the stair turret breaks forward in line with the stack and has a small timber mullion window of 2 ogee-headed lights behind single glass pane. Timber cavetto mullion window of 4 lights (similar to the blocked window to the Church House opposite q.v) to right of stack above a 3-light timber mullion window with diamond leaded panes. Interior: rich survival of original features to the older range. The hall has an axial hollow step stopped chamfered beam and bressumer to front wall above a cavetto moulded fireplace lintel. 2 adjoining low oblong recesses in the west wall with timber cupboard door surrounds are thought to be possibly bible cupboards. 3 Tudor-arched door surrounds giving access to stair turret, with old plank door, to lobby and small room off the hall, the latter now blocked off. Plank and muntin screen facing the lobby entrance, 5 panels wide with chamfered muntins and top rail. The lobby retains its flagstone floor. The winder stair retains its original wooden treads with cased in original door surround with pintles to principal chamber at its head. Partition with wide timber studs between the 2 chambers, a remarkable survival being the double garderobe in a small integral projection to the rear, with timber 2-seater formerly with access from both chambers by doorways to each side of the partition, that to left with old ledged plank door with its original hinges, that to right is now blocked off. Principal chamber is heated by hall stack, but lintel is C20 replacement. The roof structure shows that the left end of the C17 range was also originally hipped, with good quality carpentry of 2 trusses with short curved feet, carrying 2 tiers of threaded purlins and ridge purlin with cranked collars morticed and tenoned into the soffits of the blades The truss over the dividing wall between the 2 chambers is closed to collar height. There is no sign of smoke blackening in the roof. In spite of the later additions this is a most important single phase house which is otherwise remarkably intact with its very complete internal features. Its unusual plan is of exceptional interest.

Listing NGR: SS5020127625

External Links

• Wikidata Q17532811

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