Railway Cottages

Built in the late 16th Century, with some timbers dating from the 1400’s, this building was divided into two cottages by the railway company in the 19th Century, as they remain today.

The original house – now two cottages – was built between 1550 and 1600. One cottage has been dendrochronology dated with some timbers dating from the 1400’s. The building is timber framed, with a central smoke hood or smoke bay.  There was originally wattle and daub between the timbers where there is now brick filling. It is a Grade II listed building.

No former names for the house exist, but it was purchased by the LSWR Railway Company in the late 19thcentury to house railway workers, and divided into two dwellings. The Census of 1891 shows two families of railway plate workers, Richard Brookes & Jesse Freeman, living in the two cottages.