Summary

A range of 4½ bays containing a large 17th century inglenook fireplace, and on the first floor, a rare example of an early medieval timber window, possibly in-situ.  The whole building has been so extensively modernised that its original form cannot now be ascertained.

Description

Nos. 10 and 12 appear to have originally been one two-storey dwelling, built of stone, with a tile roof, replacing thatch on the front range.  After separation, the front of No 10 was rebuilt, the end bay extending out forward.  There is a large 2-storey rear extension behind No. 12, probably late 19th or early 20th century in date.   Both houses have been remodelled and considerably altered again later, and many original features have been lost, to the extent that the original plan form is very unclear.

The present plan of No 12 consists of a stair hall behind the central entrance door. A blocked door from the front of the hallway led into the living kitchen, which has a large inglenook fireplace (see below).  The spine beam of this room has been replaced at a higher level

The sitting room on the left of the stair hall (viewed from the road) has a blocked rear window and a later introduced fireplace and stack. 

The trusses [T1 and T2] define the stair hall at roof level, and one original ceiling beam, notched for joists, survives at the top of the stair well. The roof structure itself has been rebuilt, but Truss 2 has retained an original principal rafter and pegged collar joint of the 17th century or earlier.  The lofts are lath and plastered, and must have been used as accommodation at one time, probably with small windows in the thatch.

The inglenook fireplace in the original living kitchen has been partly rebuilt and the fire beam replaced,  Within, however, the fireplace has retained an interesting hood for a smoking chamber alongside the main fire, internal seats, and dry cupboard. 

On the first floor above the living-kitchen, a 3-4 light timber window was revealed in c.1971, blocked with modern brick.  It is now concealed behind the wall finish. It was about 1.5m high, and each light was approximately 200mm wide, with simple cusping in the head.  If it is actually in situ here, it is a very remarkable feature with few parallels.  The shape of the cusping, and the mouldings indistinctly seen in a press photograph, suggest a 13th century date.  There appeared to be no glazing grooves, suggesting to those who saw it at the time it was an internal window, as is sometimes found between solar and hall, but as external windows were then usually only shuttered, this is not conclusive.

This raises the remote possibility that there was an early house set at right-angles to the road, the large rear wing being a rebuilding of the main open hall.  In this situation, a solar was located above the present dining room (later the living-kitchen after the large chimney breast was introduced). It is hoped that some record or better photographs taken at the time will come to light.

A record of the hidden window was made and deposited with the Cowper & Newton Museum, Olney.  A search of their archive, and of Buckinghamshire Archaeological Society records, and of the County Record office has so far not located this document.

No. 10

No 10 has been so thoroughly modernised that very little survives to indicate it is part of the original house.  It is probable that the living room was part of the original house of No 12, as the dividing wall is 430mm thick with one door.  However, on the exterior gable wall, some unexplained lintels hint that the original building, of whatever date, extended the full length of Nos. 12-10.  If this is the case then No 10 could have accommodated the withdrawing rooms of a 17th century house represented only by the living-kitchen fireplace of No 12.

With the degree of modernisation that has taken place, it is unlikely that the original form and date of this building will ever be properly understood.

Coat of Arms from Coronation Cottages

In the garden of No. 12, no doubt salvaged and placed there for safe keeping by Mr. Crick, is a large stone coat of arms with the date below of 1712.  This displays, on the sinister, three pelicans ‘in their piety’, one over two, and on the dexter, a rampant lion on a field of mullets, the arms of Gervais Pierrepont, who was created Baron Pierrepont of Hanslope in 1714, having become lord of the Manor in 1707.  The shield is surmounted by an earl’s crown.  The lady, on the sinister side, is Lucy Pelham, daughter of Sir John Pelham, who he married in 1679-80 and who died in 1721.  The stone is said to have come from the end of Coronation Cottages, which were demolished in the 1970s.

History

There are legends that the building was at one time ecclesiastical accommodation, perhaps for a nunnery, which might explain the unusual window.  However, most such medieval institutions are well recorded, and none is known here.  The property is said to have passed through the Gayhurst estate.  For more information on past residents, click on deeds tab at top of page.

Excavation at the bottom of the extensive garden, undertaken by Dr. R. Ivens some years ago prior to the erection of a new house revealed some pits, but produced no dating evidence.