Claycotts
Current house structure from early C16. Kennels and dove cot added circa 1700 and modern extensions followed.
- 90
- Grade 2 *
- Timber framed - thought to have originated as an Inn during the wool trade circa 1402 - 1408.
- 51.967687, 1.023054
Local History
The house boasts an original priest hole by the inglenook in dining room. Legend has it that a priest hiding in it was discovered and put to death in the said hole during the Reformation. The legend continues that his spirit and various others caused some mayhem through the centuries until an exorcism performed in the early 1970's. The integral dovecot above the old kennels wing is one of less than 100 of the same still ilk in the country. The house is reputed to have been home of to a few "real characters" over the centuries; one being mentioned in a London magazine as "a gentlemen's gentlemen".
Details
House. Early C16, two builds, with further range of c1600. Later alterations and additions including dovecote range attached to south and C20 addition of no special interest to west. Restoration of early 1980s. Timber-framed, rendered, part under-built in painted brick, with red brick stacks and other additions. Dovecote range weather-boarded. Plain tile roofs. Two storeys, truncated former hall range with slightly higher cross range to right, range of c1600 at right angles to cross wing. Dovecote range adjoins former hall range to left. Entrance now by C20 range. Former hall (now kitchen) and cross wing: jettied, underbuilt in brick, carved posts and capitals, that to left of cross wing gable end particularly fine with ‘linenfold’ motif to post and floral motifs to square capital and abacus and arch brace. Foliate scroll to bressummer of cross wing, moulded to hall range. C20 cross casement windows, that to cross wing in angle with other range replacing an entrance with C19 doorcase (NMR). Rendering to first floor conceals close studding and blocked 3 -light mullion windows (owner’s photographs). Close studding and collar to cross-wing gable with bargeboards and finial. Swept roofs. External stack to gable of range to left.
Adjoining dovecote range single-storey with 2-storey central dovecote, original openings to rear and doveholes and shelves to gable. In angle with later range is brick projection under pent roof with 3-light brick ovolo mullion window with hoodmold and cogged cornice. Range of c1600: on plinth, jettied gable end. To ground floor French windows flanked by blocked 3-light ovolo mullion windows. C20 cross casement to first floor. Close-studding to jettied gable with bargeboards and finial. Swept roof. To right return a large external off-set stack (upper part rebuilt). Brick staircase projection under pent roof. Interior: former hall and cross wing have moulded ceiling beams to ground floor, blocked mullion window to front wall of kitchen. Later range has plastered brick basket-arched ovolo-moulded fireplace and studded walls with down braces. Newel spiral stair adjacent to stack somewhat remodelled. First floor: framing exposed including chamfered jowled posts with arch braces and moulded beams
and joists to earlier ranges. Close studding. Rafter seatings in wall plate at right of former hall range apparently indicate hipped roof predating erection of cross wing. Roof rebuilt incorporating early timbers.
- 90
- Grade 2 *
- Timber framed - thought to have originated as an Inn during the wool trade circa 1402 - 1408.
- 51.967687, 1.023054
- Historic England Reference: 1351932
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