Update on Cottage in Whitby. Finally got some firm'ish dating info

[agbagb]

It's been a while, nearly 10 years since the last update, is that too long in the world of PPUK? I've found my log in details and will have to update my email.

We have finished all the renovations and restorations and are well in to the maintenance phase of owning an old building. So I can now report back on some of the things we did and on how well they are performing after a 10 years or so. e.g. NHL pointing and render, Linseed paints, MVHR.

But first... We had had pondered on the origins of the cottage from the most unusual fire place and chimney to the old roof structure resembling a cruck frame. We took the plunge earlier this year and engaged the services of a an expert to look at the building and give his considered opinion. Apart from dating the phases of the building he has also identified some ships timbers "futtocks" and given us a clearer understanding of many features that have left us head scratching for years. We've published the report here https://www.idostuff.org/whitby-cottage/historic-building-assessment-1.html. It tells us, probably no later than early 17th century for the first phase and significant re-modelling in the 18th.

Once again, thank you to all those that gave us advice and support all those years ago.

 

[Zebra]

Hello agbagb, good to see you again.

 

[Zebra]

Wow, what an amazing report. So thorough and knowledgeable. And what a beautiful cottage, so many old features lovingly maintained. I've only scanned it but it's fascinating. I would love to get something similar done here, did it cost an arm and a leg? And I've learned a new word, futtock, which is a great word which I shall try to use daily.

 

[agbagb]

Thanks Zebra,
I see you are still chipping away on yours. I'll have to dive in to catch up.
Yes it was quite an outlay for us but he is one of the best in the country with the breadth of knowledge to have a good idea about less well researched vernacular builds. It was one of those occasions where my own research could only go so far at which point I'm happy to pay for an expert. It was sub 2K but a lot of that was for the written report, he does do inspections with verbal findings which could be a starting point. Loads of interesting stuff on his website including ships timbers myth busting so he got a bit excited over the futtocks.

 

[Kearn]

.Apart from dating the phases of the building he has also identified some ships timbers "futtocks"

Ah, your futtocks are famous…! James is normally (and rightly so) one of the first to discount all those folks who blindly state their houses are build of old ships… how very interesting indeed.

 

[philpjuk100]

Yes we had James survey our house and were surprised at the result!
James WrightMedieval & Tudor Period Buildings Group
·
"It is not possible, in words that sit soberly on a page of print, to express the moment of sheer excitement of seeing for the first time a medieval building hitherto unrecognized." ~ Maurice Barley
A sentiment that I know only too well from Blacksmiths Lane, Kelham, Notts (smoke-blackened rafters pictured). Listed as being a seventeenth century building, intensive survey of this private house yielded significant evidence of a three-bay, early fifteenth century hall house.