UPDATED: A COTTAGE that had a 1632 date plaque has been demolished and looks set to be replaced with a modern dormer bungalow.
Warrington Borough Council planners had agreed to discharge a condition that work should not start on demolishing the building in Warrington Road, Glazebury until a programme of archaeological work is completed to protect the building’s heritage.
They have accepted that the 1632 date plaque was false and was not part of the original building.
Planning permission to replace the cottage was granted last year – but with the condition that the archaeological work must be completed first.
Now planners have been told the earliest Tithe Map of the area, dated 1838, shows no building. A map from 1847, however, did show a house on the site, bounded by Warrington Road and Hurst Mill Lane, so the cottage is likely to have been built sometime between the two dates.
The property was not in a conservation area. It was not listed either nationally or locally as a building of archaeological or historic interest. It did not feature in the Cheshire Historic Environment Records.
It appears to have originally been a two-up/two-down cottage but it has been poorly extended on numerous occasions over its lifespan. Walls have been finished externally with white painted sand and cement render and black painted mock “timber framing” – probably in an attempt to improve the aesthetics of the property and also in an attempt to keep out damp.
But the house is badly affected by damp in several places.
Two chimney stacks had no function as any fireplaces which might have once existed were removed years ago. Some internal joists were false – and some actually made of foam.
The house had a 20th-century front porch and side extension added – and a detached modern building was erected in 2015.
Officers say the information provided on behalf of the applicant was satisfactory and that the archaeological condition imposed last year could be discharged.
Pictured below: The cottage from the side – showing the false date plaque
