Snowfields Cottage: Bearsted buildings No4

Susan was working this morning so I went to the pool for another swim. On the way home called at the allotment to see how things were and managed to collect more courgettes, some tomatoes and beetroot. Not easy on crutches. It was a lovely day, warm and sunny as you can see. Today's shot in another in the series of Bearsted buildings which looked very good with the sun on it. The only blot being the parking restriction sign which spoils the view.

The entry below is from the British Historical Building website which I've referred to for each of the shots of Bearsted buildings so far.

"Late C16 or early C17 house with mid C18 facade. Timber framed with mathematical tile front elevation, tile-hung side elevations and plain-tile roof. 2 storeys and attics with plinth, moulded wood eaves cornice and hipped roof. 2 end chinmey stacks. Regular 5-window front with glazing bar sashes in open boxes, on ground floor with segmental heads. Wood doorcase with fluted Doric pilasters and triangular pediment. Door with 2 arched panels and glazed top panel. Interior has substantial timber frame of 4 bays"

This rather dry description does not tell the story of this lovely Georgian house. The following piece comes from the Bearsted and Thurnham Society's Newsletter of May 2008.

"In 1913 Oswald Charles Jones, an electrical engineer living in Mill Street, (Maidstone) bought Snowfield Cottage (where his in-laws, the Darbys, were tenants) from Baroness Orczy for £400. A land valuation dated August 31 1914 put the 25 perches of land at £90 and the buildings at £310. Some of Oswald Jones’ plans and drawings for extensions to the property still exist – including a 1928 builder’s estimate to make a first floor extension to the outhouse (known as “The Room”) for the improbably low price of £99.0s.10d"

The reference to Baroness Orczy is interesting too, the Baroness was was a Hungarian-born British novelist, playwright and artist. She is most known for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel. Some of her paintings were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

Wherever you look there are interesting things around you and this series on Bearsted buildings is throwing up some facinating information, right on our doorstep