NHER 41854 (Building record) - Nos 1 and 2 Rectory Lane

Small house in centre of present village but shown on (S1) and (S2) as in isolated position between rectory and church, south of park. (S2) has 'smithy' written against a building immediately southwest, and (S1) shows present building as a house and the other as non-domestic; latter now indicated as Forge Cottage.
House (now derelict) aligned east-west; two storeys, pantile roof. Massive stack offcentre to east with later sawtooth cornice. South wall of house has ground floor of Flemish bond yellow bricks with diagonal skintlings. Skewback arched door at each end with two windows with similar arches between them. Change in thickness below upper floor which is of reddish bricks with horizontal skintlings. Two upper windows and dentilled eaves. West gable wall shows same two builds (here the upper floor appears white) with tumbled gable. Skewback ground floor window, round arched at first floor. East gable wall is remarkable; at first it appears all of the older build with skewback window on two levels, but close inspection reveals fossil tumblehomes below the present tumbled gable, showing this was a tall parapet gable later raised. North wall has base of red brick with mixed skintlings, but upper level all horizontals. Only one tiny window each floor at centre. Recent extension to northeast; at northwest is catslide with walls of 19th century brick, in soldier courses to west; door to east; north wall has many limestone lumps. Separate chimney.
Interior of building not seen but mixed skintlings of base of north wall suggests a date of about 1760-80, one storey and attic with steep thatched roof and east parapet gable; apparently two cottages. Present upper floor and catslide are 19th century; stone probably comes from ruins of All Saints' Church.
E. Rose (NLA), 8 July 2005.