Building record ADH 043 - Church Lane Cottage

Church Lane Cottage was originally built as an unusually small house of just 3.9 m or 13 ft in width, with low walls of approximately 2 m or 6.5 ft in height. Its upper storey was contained almost entirely within the slope of the roof, but the lower was arranged in the standard manner with a central hall heated by a high-end chimney and flanked by a parlour and service room. Rural dwellings of this scale were once common but are now rare survivors, and the property is accordingly of considerable historic interest. The original timber-framed walls retain some elements from the 16th or early-17th century, but were largely rebuilt in the 18th century when the present upper storey was added, raising the walls by 1.6 m or 5.25 ft. The present hall fireplace dates from this remodelling and there is evidence of a lobby entrance in the front wall immediately opposite. By the time of the parish tithe survey in 1839 the house had been converted into a pair of labourers’ cottages belonging to nearby Aldham Hall, and soon afterwards acquired its present outline when lean-to extensions were added to the rear wall and right-hand gable. A photograph of 1961 shows the positions of two front doors that have since disappeared. The lean-to has preserved a section of external weatherboarding in the back wall of the present kitchen that illustrates the building’s appearance in the 18th and early-19th centuries, and more may survive above its ceiling. The interior retains a number of good 19th century fixtures and fittings including an unusual array of characterful 19th century pine cupboards along with a rare screen flanking the chimney corner. Despite an extensive renovation in the latter part of the 20th century which saw the replacement of almost all its windows the property therefore continues to fully warrant its grade II status (S1).