MEM22158 - Castle Cottage, 7, Church Street, Dunster (Building)

The 2002 Dunster Conservation Area Character Appraisal states "In Church Street, nos. 1, 7 (Castle Cottage) and 8, are three cottages on the south side, all early 19th century or earlier (identifiable on the Tithe Map of 1840). They are in local vernacular style with mainly sandstone or rendered elevations and plain tiled roofs. No. 7 has brick segmental arch openings, and timber casement windows. Between nos. 7 & 8 is a shallow ogee-head arched door frame and ribbed and studded door which appears to be 18th century or earlier." [1] The building is labelled "7" on 2018 MasterMap data. [2] The building is mentioned in the 2018 Conservation Area Appraisal for Dunster. [3] The building was recorded by the SANHS Early Dunster Project. This is a three-room cross-passage house with four bays. Dendrochronological analysis of the roof timbers provides a felling range of between 1299 and 1321 [5]. The roof structure is described, true or raised cruck and a jointed cruck are represented with cranked collars, varying treatment of apex and with wind bracing in the position of the former open hall. At some time the house was divided into two and staircases were inserted at each end, but it is currently one house again. The former open hall has a lateral stack in the rear wall, formerly with winder stairs to the first floor, but only the access door survives. [4] The heritage asset was assessed for inclusion on the Exmoor Local Heritage List in November 2022. It was decided to add the asset to the Local Heritage List. [5]