These so-called cottages are a conversion of a single timber-framed building with a continuous jetty to the north facing the Parish Church. The building is substantially constructed, in a remarkably sound condition and dates from circa 1500.
External Features:
In converting the building into two cottages, the south, north and east jetties were underbuilt with brick in the 18th century. Windows and two doors were likewise converted in that style. The east wall was also bricked at ground level and first floor walls plastered and painted. The west wall is obscured by the warehouse which was built against it.
The roof is hipped on the east but half-hipped on the west, a fact which gives credence to the idea that the building was shortened there when the warehouse was erected.
The south elevation facing the garden was jettied but underbuilt with brick at ground level. Above that, the walls are covered with weatherboarding and tarred. The eaves on this side are most unusual. There is an outer plate, bracketed out with curved brackets to form a coving (Fig. 1).
There were two original windows facing the garden. The diamond mortices and grooves for shutters were bricked up recently. See Fig. 2 on 44 High Street for an illustration.
This building is most unusual. Its substantial construction with heavy first floor joist points to the fact that it was important, possibly owned by the Church. It has been suggested that it might have been a wool store.
Interior:
The room divisions, staircases and fireplaces are all of 18th-century date, contemporary with the alteration into cottages. There is no griming on the rafters, so the only possibility of an original chimney and fire- place might have been at the west end where the warehouse was built.
Cellar:
There is a cellar below the western part of the building with an earth floor and stone rubble walls.
Briscall W., 1987, Discovering Ashford’s Old Buildings, Ashford, LRB Historical Publications
List Entry
Grade: II
Date first listed: 19-Sep-1969
- 5344 THE CHURCHYARD (South Side) No 6 No 7 TR 0142 NW 1/44 19.9.69. II GV
- C18 or earlier. 2 storeys and attics. Ground floor painted brick, above cemented with wooden cornice between. Tiled roof with one gabled dormer. 3 sashes with glazing bars intact.
All the items in the Churchyard form a group, together with Nos 51 to 61 (odd). 61A, 63 to 67 (odd), 67A, 69 to 71 (odd), 75 and the rear part of No 75, High Street.
Listing NGR: TR0100442712