SDO21131 - Church Cottage, Manor Road, Studland, Dorset: Level 4 Historic Building Recording with watching brief

‘In October 2022 Cotswold Archaeology were instructed by Mr and Mrs Grenfell to undertake a Level 4 Historic Building Recording of Church Cottage. The building is grade II listed (NHLE 1323433) and the recording was necessary due to an uncontrolled partial collapse of the north west facing elevation. Following extensive consultation with the structural engineer and local authority conservation officer, it was concluded that repair and retention of the building was not viable in view of the extent of works that were likely to be necessary to stabilise the fabric. Thus, it was agreed that a Level 4 record of the building would be compiled prior to its total demolition in order to preserve the building by record. The Level 4 historic building record comprises two stages: stage 1 was undertaken prior to demolition of the building and stage 2 comprises a watching brief as demolition proceeded. This report presents both stages 1 and 2 of the Level 4 recording. . There has also been analytical and photographic recording of certain structural elements extracted from the building during demolition works such as historic principal trusses. The results of the Level 4 recording will be archived as per the terms of the Written Scheme of Investigation (Appendix 2). In summary, the external envelope of the building is found to be of three core phases. It is likely the earliest phase is 18th or early 19th century and reflects a two-cell asymmetric cottage that was probably of one and a half storeys. Phase two apparently extended the building toward the north by a further bay. The evidence suggests this change occurred after 1871, and perhaps coincided with an informal subdivision of the building into three dwellings. Phase three was the addition of a further bay toward the north. This phase was completed during the late 20th century and replaced an earlier lean-to structure that may have been of phase two. The external appearance of the building including reed thatched roof covering with half hips is cogent with a distinctive local historic character. The construction type of phases one and two adopt vernacular materials and methods that, following interpretation, may yield evidence that contributes to understanding of the built heritage of locality. This includes traditional methods of construction in areas where a white chalk freestone is available, and an historical awareness of its limitations in domestic structures on the part of the vernacular builder. 6 Church Cottage, Studland. Level 4 HBR © Cotswold Archaeology Documentary evidence of the building is not plentiful. It is possible the building was originally erected as a tenanted cottage within the glebe lands of the Rector of Studland, although it must be emphasised the evidence is not conclusive in this matter. This was prior to the development of Studland Manor by the Bankes family as their eccentric marine villa in 1823, when it appears the building was absorbed into the Bankes estate which comprised much of the historical manor of Studland. The building apparently was returned to the ownership of the Diocese of Salisbury during the early 20th century before entering private ownership in 1996. The watching brief recording undertaken in January 2024, as the building was being demolished, has been documented in Section 8 of this report. The observations from this corroborate the findings of the building recording, though there is evidence from the roof trusses (both their construction techniques and fabric) that the building may date from earlier in the 18th century than has previously been thought. The likelihood of the building having a stone tile roof for some of its history is also corroborated by the presence of staggered purlin mortices, perhaps indicating a heavier roof than thatch was once present. Overall the watching brief provided good opportunities to record already understood fabric and features salvaged from the demolition.’