Montrose
Montrose, 3 Cherry Cottages
The exact age of Cherry Cottages is not known and although the deeds go back to 1898, it is presumed to be much older. 1 Cherry Cottages must have been an addition as there are corner stones between 1 and 2. 2 and 3, now Montrose, had originally been one house, an existing door frame between the two cottages was found, but were separate in 1898 when the deeds start. They were re-combined in 1985. It is rough stone, rubble fill construction with horse hair plaster and lath and plaster ceilings. There is a story about the houses that they were poorly built by two brothers, using begged and borrowed material. There is one supporting beam which stops short of a wall and is met by another, cut to fit, which might add truth to this story. There are no foundations and the cottages have a tendency to lean downhill! The internal stairs are of stone. Part way up the stairs in number 3 is a small alcove in the wall believed to be a candle hole, where a candle will burn without guttering even in a draught. When the two cottages were being re-combined in 1985 a layer of broken off slates just below gutter level in number 2 gave rise to the thought that this might have been the remains of a barn porch roof. This theory is supported by the discovery of a layer of cobbles about 12 inches below current ground level at the same side of the house, which could have been a cobbled yard. There is also a walled up doorway, possibly a shippon doorway, which had been obscured on the inside by a chimney breast. Perhaps this was one of the earliest barn conversions? In the 1960s the occupants feared they would have to move because they believed there was a demolition order on the cottages. However by the 1970s they were given grant aid to install a flush toilet and eventually a bathroom
Number 2 was occupied by Bill Wild until his death in 1984. He had moved to Malham in the 1950s. His cottage in 1984 still had no WC, one cold tap, four light bulbs, two socket outlets and no hot water except for a little Creda Corvette. Quite a spartan existence for such a well respected craftsman. He left his mark on two of the splitting roof beams by attaching brackets to hold them together. The two cottages now form one private dwelling.
No Comments
Add a comment about this page