NHER 18246 (Building record) - Low Road Farm Cottage. (now Oakwell Cottage)

July 1982. Visit.
Pair of semi-detached cottages sharing central chimney.
South façade of red brick in Flemish bond with dentilled cornice. West gable wall appears to be of same date and brickwork but has flint plinth. Visible only at ends in north and south walls owing to extension added in about 1920 on west.
Rear (north) wall however is older. English bond brick with cornice and side of gable wall added on. From appearance of latter it seems the original house extended further west. Foundations are said to have been found at depth of 1.2m (4 feet), beyond the east end also.
Eastern cottage under reconstruction.
Good domed bread oven revealed off north side fireplace, with flue beneath. Beam above top of oven alcove is reused, as is central beam to room on east. This is a flatback made originally to go against a wall. It has unusual crude stopped chamfers derived from 17th century types. Owner has deeds going back to 1780 which is about the right date for the newer work; older work perhaps about 1700. Modern extensions being added in seconds bricks.
Good air raid shelter underground to east, resulting from proximity of decoy airfield. (S1) in file.
E. Rose (NAU), 20 July 1982.