A two bay timber framed builiding that has had tree-ring analysis carried out on it dating to the 16th century (1) (2).

Phases 1: Auld Cottage is a timber-framed building dated to 1512 through dendrochronology. Auld Cottage was originally a timber-framed two-bay building, measuring 6.7 m in length and a width of 3.52 m. Phase 2 (late sixteenth or seventeenth century?): A single storey, half-bay was added to the eastern end of the building built out of brick (half brick thick). It appears that the extension was not as wide as the body of the building, but was offset to the north side: the candle niches that were inset into the eastern end wall are set in a position closer to the north side of the building than the south.Although the present roof dates to the nineteenth century, the building was open and originally featured a coupled, common rafter roof. Phase 3 (seventeenth or early eighteenth century?): Auld Cottage was raised to one and a half storeys (two floors). At this point the eastern half-bay was extended so that it was the full width of the original two-bay building. The building was encased with a second skin of bricks on the ground floor with the occasional header to tie the two skins together. Phase 4 (eighteenth century): The smoke hood was removed and a brick chimney was inserted. Phase 5 (nineteenth century): A porch was constructed on the northern side of the building, facing towards the road. A carpenter’s mark is clearly visible on the wall-plate in the central bay on the northern wall plate and a scorch mark can be seen on a beam in the central bay of the upper floor. (3)

Locally known as the winter bolt-hole for Whinney of Palis Hall. When the hall got too cold to stay in over winter, Whinney, a local character is said to have shared the cottage with her horse. After falling into disrepair, it was made water-tight by SPAB working party which led to its purchase by a private buyer and subsequent sympathetic conversion to a holiday let. (4)

<1> Hurford,M., Howard R,Tyers, C., 2010, Auld Cottage, Tree-Ring Analysis of Timbers (Published document). SNT2542.

<2> Jones, M, 2009, Norwell Buildings (Published document). SNT2541.

<3> Ruth Victoria Patrick MA, 2019, How Far do Rural, Vernacular, Medieval Timber-Framed Buildings in the Central Trent Valley conform to the English Vernacular Building Tradition? (Unpublished document). SNT5328.

<4> J Buckley (NCC), Observations by Janine Buckley MA (NCC) (Personal comment). SNT5239.