Listed Building: COTTON LODGE (281609)

COTTON STONHAM ROAD (off) TM 06 NE 2/24 Cotton Lodge -- II Former farmhouse. Late C16, in 2 very closely-dated phases, presupposing the existence of an earlier house. Restored 1970's. Timber framed and plastered; parapet gable ends in English bond red brick, with diapering to the short front return walls. Plaintiled roof. 2 cells. 2 storeys and attic. The facade has been restored to its original symmetrical form. Flanking T-shape windows, each comprising a 5-light window with transom and mullioned side lights; original cavetto-moulded mullions in side lights on upper floor, the remaining windows 1970's reproductions. Central doorway has C16-C17 plank door (brought from elsewhere). Above is a 5-light window with transom. 3 gabled dormers of 1970's with modillioned lintols (as originals); each has a 5-light window with transom. Matching gable stacks with 4 closely-set square shafts with linked caps. Right gable end has 2 pairs of small and very plain original windows, without external splays. Both gables have small splayed attic windows. Gabled stair wing at rear, with a similar 1970's addition adjoining. One-storey 1970's addition set back to left. Interior. Fully exposed frame with some heavy close studding; a good deal of later alteration relating to the insertion of new windows. Earlier phase to left has a single room on 3 floors. Ground floor room has on-edge joists, now plastered over as originally intended. Rear wallpost has shaped head. Large open fireplace with original lintol. Main apartment to right has ogee and hollow-moulded bridging beam and joists, normally of early-mid C16 and perhaps re-used; the axial bridging beam in the end bay is ovolo-moulded. At junction of the 2 phases is a cross beam of deep narrow section, supported at the rear by a chamfered post with Jacobean carving; the partition wall it carries has an ovolo-moulded doorway. Stair wing abuts earlier phase but is of later date and is much altered: an external doorway abuts the lowermost flight, which is a re-used former ladder stair with solid treads; evidence for blocked windows and for a probable attic flight, now lost. Main chamber has arched stuccoed fireplace. Roof has mainly butt purlins. Over the earlier phase the upper row of purlins are morticed into diminished principals but not clasped by the collars, an unusual hybrid form. A collar in this section has a painted date 162-. The house is of particular interest as an early example of a planned symmetrical frontage, and because all rooms (including attics) were heated from the outset. The absence of service rooms makes an original use as a farmhouse unlikely. Surrounding medieval moat. Listing NGR: TM0807265649