Description

SX 86 NW COFFINSWELL KERSWELL LANE
3/109 Osmond Cottage
-
23.8.55
II
Cottage, formerly probably farmhouse. Early C16, altered in C17 with probably C18
wing. Rendered cob and rubble walls, lower left end wall is exposed rubble. Half
hipped thatched roof. Large rendered rubble projecting lateral stack at front with
brick shaft. Rubble gable stack to wing.
Originally 3 room and through-passage plan open to the roof, at least over hall and
lower room, with central hearth. Ceiled in circa early C17 and lateral stack added
at front of hall. Wing added at rear of inner room; it appears that the access to
this was always external, with only a loft above. At one stage lower room was
converted into an outbuilding, to be converted back again in late C20, it is likely
that it was at least partially rebuilt in C19.
2 storeys. Asymmetrical 2 window front, 3 on ground floor. First floor left-hand
window is 4-light C20 casement dormer. Right-hand first floor window is 3-light
early C20 casement with glazing bars. Below it is 3-light C19 casement. Both are
in a projection to right of the lateral stack which has a circular oven projection
to its left with thatched roof extending over it. Late C19/early C20 plank door to
its left under shallow slate porch hood. To the right of the projection on the
ground floor is a 2-light early C20 casement with glazing bars.
Interior has a number of good features. Hall has 3 chamfered cross beam with
indistinct stops. The chamfered lintel of the fireplace is exposed but with a
modern fireplace inserted below. Between the hall and inner room is a plank and
muntin screen with the muntins exposed on the inner room side. The inner room has a
chamfered cross beam with hollow step stops. The inner room chamber has traces of a
moulded plaster cornice.
3 original trusses survive and are visible on the first floor, 1 pair are plastered
in. One of the other pairs are definately jointed crucks the others are likely to
be. Mortice cambered collars and threaded purlins. Morticed apex with diagonal
ridge. Above the passage and hall the roof is smoke-blackened and this includes the
common rafters and thatch. Over the lower end the roof was re-built probably in the
early C19 with straight principals and lapped pegged collars. Similar but probably
C18 roof to wing.
The particular interest of this building lies in the combination of a traditional
attractive exterior and an interior with a particularly well preserved early roof
and other features of interest, with the traces of moulded plasterwork being
especially notable.

Listing NGR: SX8888668567

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26618820

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

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)