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

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532811

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

• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)