Oxfordshire Woodland Group

Tucked away down a country lane lies this little 2 bay thatched (combed wheat reed) timber-framed cottage which portrays the very essence of the quaint English vernacular building style.

This building probably dates from the late 1500's but may be earlier. The left hand bay appears to have been floored from the start with the right bay probably open. The visual clues for these surmises are based on the front left hand bay girding rail being set lower than the gable end cross beam and an original full height centre prick post in the left gable rising from sill to tie beam that presumeably carrys a spine beam from which floor joists would spring to rest on top of the girding rail.

An external chimney has been added onto the right end gable lending weight to the argument that this cottage was most probably built prior to the widespread introduction of internal chimneys being built in cottages and houses in England during the mid to late 16th century.

There are no hazel liggers woven in a decorative network (as per the ridge) around the verges of the roof as is usually the case with a combed wheat reed thatched roof covering giving rise to a very clean regular roof.

Ken Hume