Blakehouse Cottage

Blakehouse Cottage is a listed timber framed and thatched building.

The special interest of the building derives, in part, from its age and the survival of significant elements of the original fabric. Principally the timber frame, stone plinth and roof structure and, most significantly, an internal wattle and daub smoke hood.

The building was in a poor state of repair and lacking modern facilities. A scheme to alter and extend the cottage was prepared, with a view to retaining the integrity of the original plan form whilst providing modern facilities within a new extension.

A two-storey brick extension has been added, seperated from the original fabric with a glazed link. The extension and original building have been re-thatched. The brickwork infill panels have been replaced with insulated render panels.

Due to the fragile nature of the building the construction works have been approached with care. The timber frame had been painted or pitched and much of the wood was rotten. The timbers forming the frame and roof structure have been stri[[ed and new oak has been spliced in where necessary. This has been done with close liason with the Local Authority Conservation Officer.