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Summary

Farmhouse of c. 1700 with barn attached (probably one build). The original plan comprised a fire house, entered via a 'mell' passage to the south of a the fireplace; the firehouse was separated from a dairy and bed chamber by means of a plank and stud parting, with built-in, un-dated press cupboard.

In the early to mid 18th century a central doorway was made in the north facing elevation and the firehouse partitioned off to create a 'cross passage', the dog leg stairs at the end of this passage posssibly also dates from this period as does the kitchen extension, which had access to sleeping accommodation above via its own spiral stair.

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II) 1144553: OAK COTTAGE AND ADJOINING BARN

Other References/Statuses

• National Park

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Late 17th C to Late 19th C - 1700 AD to 1900 AD (at some time))

Full description

Oak Cottage, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale
Farmhouse of c. 1700 with barn attached (probably one build). The original plan comprised a fire house, entered via a 'mell' passage to the south of a the fireplace; the firehouse was separated from a dairy and bed chamber by means of a plank and stud parting, with built-in, un-dated press cupboard.

In the early to mid 18th century a central doorway was made in the north facing elevation and the firehouse partitioned off to create a 'cross passage', the dog leg stairs at the end of this passage possibly also dates from this period as does the kitchen extension, which had access to sleeping accommodation above via its own spiral stair.

PHASES OF DEVELOPMENT

1) Late 17th century - The house was built attached to ntsmr 25760 of Nook Farm. A cross passage ran across the east end of ntsmr 25760; a door from this passage led via the 'mell' into the 'housepart' facing the hearth was a covered press built into the partition separating the bed-chambers.

Some plank and stud partitions with moulded studs survive at first floor level.

Both the main body of the house and the back kitchen are walled in what appears to be a quite early method of dry walling. The larger slatestone blocks are placed in random fashion and between them run layers of slate levelling, not coursed as in later walls (e.g. Yew Tree Farm, Rosthwaite Building 2, (ntsmr 25797).

2) Early / Mid 18th century - Front door inserted in the middle of the north elevation. Another partition resulted in a passage leading to newel stairs opposite. Also built at this time was the back kitchen extension which also had their own spiral stairs in the south-west corner (now blocked in).

3) Later improvements to the structure included the late 19th century west chimney stack and 19th century windows.

ROOFING - Sandstone v-shaped ridge, slate roofing of diminishing courses; plain projecting eaves (c 30cm) and verge (c 10cm). Iron guttering.

CHIMNEYSTACKS - West - Late 19th century square pebble-dashed stack rises from gable wall offside centre. East - Large original stack rises from ridge of gable wall. Late 19th century pebble- dashed narrow stack with ceramic pot built on top. Back Kitchen - Large original stack rises from ridge of gable wall. Late 19th century pebble-dashed stack with ceramic pot built on top.

ROOF CONSTRUCTION - Main part of house: 3 bay, simple tie beam truss with trenched and staggered purlins; halved and notched apex. Recently replaced rafters and purlins to East bay, also recently felted and battened. South Wing: 2 bay simple tie beam truss.

WALLING - Slatestone rubble, very random, with random slate levelling, projecting (c. 5cm) plinth.

FIREPLACES - Early mid 20th century. East stack projects inwards (as far as line of firebeam on ground floor) on first floor. The areas to either side of the stack on the first floor have been filled in , thus presenting what appears to be a continuous wall face.

STAIRS - Dog leg with winders; slate steps. When layers of wallpaper were recently removed from the walls of the staircase the earliest form of decoration was found to be a layer of pink limewash.

FIRST FLOOR - Mid/late 19th century skirting and picture rail. Late 17th century plank and stud partitions; all sawn oak; outer edge of each plank scribed.

ATTIC - Walls in attic have been whitewashed (NT, VBS, 01/11/1983).

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• ENA1480 - Vernacular Building Survey, Oak Cottage, Rosthwaite, Borrowdale, 1983
• ENA4020 - Historic Landscape Survey of Borrowdale, Cumbria

Related records: none recorded

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