Dragon Beams (EHER 37323)

Late 16th century crosswing and a late 18th century cottage, combined to form one dwelling.

Late 16th century crosswing, combined with a late 18th century cottage to the south-west, to form one house, altered in the 19th and 20th century. It is timber-framed, plastered between exposed framing, with the roof of the crosswing tiled, and the roof of the cottage slated. The house has a two-bay crosswing formerly jettied to the front only but later underbuilt and original external chimney stack to rear, in the late 16th century. Remainder of original house which extended to the south-west has been demolished, and on its site a late 18th century cottage was erected, originally single-storey with attics, and the roof was raised in the late 19th century to form two full storeys, with a low pitch for slate. A small building to the rear, possibly a detached kitchen contemporary with the house, was extensively altered and now linked to the main structure. There is a 19th century external chimney stack on north-east wall, with two 20th century casement windows on each floor. The timber-frame is partly exposed internally. The crosswing has jowled storey posts, close studding with curved tension braces trenched to the inside, clasped purlin roof, floor extensively rebuilt. Jetty underbuilt with primary straight bracing. A photograph taken by the RCHM in about 1920 shows the whole building lathed and plastered externally, with two early 19th century doors with shallow hoods now both blocked. The cottage would have been plastered from the outset, and the crosswing would have been plastered over at least since the jetty was underbuilt. The removal of this exterior plaster has reduced the historical authenticity of the building, and will shorten its life. The reconstruction of the floor of the crosswing with false angle ties, and the introduction of older components of unknown provenance into the cottage, have reduced the historical value of the interior. The remaining historical value now consists primarily in the wall framing, roof and rear chimney stack of the crosswing. The small building to the rear may have been a detached kitchen, and therefore of some historical interest, but the north-east and south-east walls and roof have been extensively rebuilt and its historical value now consists in the NW wall, which appears to be original and possibly contemporary with the house. The name Dragon Beams should not be taken as evidence that there are or have ever been dragon beams in this building, as it has been jettied on one elevation only. It would still be possible to reverse some of these alterations. <1> See: <2>