Ye Olde Cruck House and De Lacy Hall, Frampton On Severn
Description: Ye Olde Cruck House and De Lacy Hall
Grade: II
Date Listed: 17 June 1977
English Heritage Building ID: 132408
OS Grid Reference: SO7461907497
OS Grid Coordinates: 374619, 207497
Latitude/Longitude: 51.7656, -2.3692
Location: The Street, Frampton on Severn, Gloucestershire GL2 7ED
Locality: Frampton On Severn
Local Authority: Stroud
County: Gloucestershire
Country: England
Postcode: GL2 7ED
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Comments
I lived in this property, and I own it, so I find it unfortunate that there are several crucial factual errors in its listing. First, Ye Olde Cruck House IS De Lacy Hall, and NOT an outbuilding, but a house that has been lived in on and off since its first bay (the eastern-most single storey) was built circa 1490. The rest of the house has two full storeys, not merely attic space. The bay that is referred to as the smoke room served that purpose for a time, but was used as the property's wash room from the late 18th century through the early 20th century. The western-most bay, nearest The Street, was used for commercial purposes up to 1972. The shop run by Mr White stocked fabrics, notions, etc. He used the upstairs space to store his inventory, and was known for his great selection and ability to secure whatever a customer asked.
The original occupant of the Cruck House/Hall is believed to have been the Clifford family's falconer. Each bay was added to the house every decade or so, making the building circa late 15th to early 16th century. Across the courtyard from this house is De Lacy Cottage, circa 1530-1550. It is believed to have been built as an "executive house" for the Cliffords' land manager and ombudsman. The cottage is also two storeys, with three fireplaces, including a large Inglenook, as well as two bedrooms on the first floor. The "Juliet balcony" at the back was transformed into a bathroom in the 20th century. Beneath it, a scullery was made for the preparation of food, so the back of the cottage is not contemporary with the original 16th century, central-stack Tudor cottage, of which it is an excellent archetype. The original daub and wattle and oak beams throughout, as well as servants quarters on the second storey are all intact. The cottage even has its original front door.
Although the property is registered under "Ye Olde Cruck House," it includes the Hall, the courtyard, the flagstone patio, De Lacy Cottage and a large garden to the north side of the cottage. Surrounding the property is a brick fence. These two buildings have always been together, and this has confused any number of officials and academics who have examined the site. The name De Lacy dates back to the Domesday Book, to an acquisitive landowner who held massive tracts throughout the west country and the midlands. It is believed that Roger De Lacy tried unsuccessfully to acquire Frampton-on-Severn, but the name on this cottage presents a mysterious historical bond between the reign of William the Conquerer and that of Henry VIII. This may be the last vestige of Roger De Lacy's futile attempt to add this village to his enormous land holdings, and is therefore of special historical interest and importance. My late husband, Dan Phillips, was a master fencer, antiquarian and collector of arms, armour and antiquities. Mr Phillips discovered the De Lacy connection, so extended the name to the partner house of the property: De Lacy Cottage & De Lacy Hall.
BERYL PHILLIPS, 2 September 2010
AN ADDENDUML it should be noted that the postcode for this property is incorrect. The postcode for De Lacy Cottage & De Lacy Hall is:
GL2 7EA
In addition, the Roman terracotta tiles replaced the thatched roof of both the cottage and hall after a fire at the cottage, believed to have been during World War II. The scars of the burning are visible at the front door of the cottage. There are village elders who remember the property very well when it was thatched. As a practical matter, the now-rare terracotta tiles were used to replace the roof. However, this was a 20th century repair of necessity, and is not at all contemporary with the original architecture. Drawings of the thatched roof on both De Lacy Cottage and De Lacy Hall may be seen in a book by historian Rose Spence, whose first book on Frampton-on-Severn, "A Victorian Portrait," showed the drawings of one the ladies of the Clifford family. Many of the buildings Miss Clifford drew have long since been demolished, and it is the image of a butcher shop in the western-most bay of De Lacy Hall, nearest The Street, that has given many the incorrect impression that the butcher shop and smoke house played a much larger role in the history of "Ye Olde Cruck House" than they actually did. Again, many elders of the village remember well Mr. White's notions and fabric shop in that space, as well as the owner and resident of the cottage, called by all "Old Mrs Rowles" who was known for being exceptionally house proud. She and generations of residents before her would have lived in these thatched homes and done their laundry in the wash room of De Lacy Hall (aka Ye Olde Cruck House), despite its misnomer "smoke house."
There were also two windows on the second storey of the cottage, bricked up when the window tax was passed in the 17th century. The places where the windows were are clearly visible from the outside of the cottage. In the second storey "servants quarters," a sea captain who lived in the cottage smuggled the then-highly valuable (and highly taxed) tallow for candles. Accessible only by wooden ladder steps, and easily hidden by a tapestry over the closed door of the entry, this was a perfect space for the storage of contraband goods. There is no record that the sea caption was ever caught, and indeed the tale of his smuggling brings a smile to all who know it. However, it should also be noted that the property has never been open to the public, and that is no doubt why may misconceptions have thrived. The property has always been freehold, unusual for its age, and both houses on the property have always been largely residential, with the exception of the letting of the space near The Street, also a perfect position for commercial use, especially when there was a door opening out to The Street at the end of De Lacy Hall. For reasons that are unclear, but also 20th century modifications, the doorway with overhang was replaced by a large window facing The Street.
There was also a large overhang across the entire front of De Lacy Hall. My late husband asked for permission to take this down rather than repair it, but the bases of the jutting out roof are clearly visible under the pebbles of the courtyard. So its absence would have not been noted when De Lacy was listed a few years later in 1977. Again, the absence of the overhang, the overly large window at the front of the Hall and the lack of a thatched roof on both houses were quite recent, modern renovations that are not contemporary with the Tudor property. Similarly, the addition of the scullery (kitchen) caused the unfortunate building of a makeshift staircase, that is not only NOT a Tudor feature, but is indeed what many owners of older listed properties call "Victorian DIY vandalism" It is highly doubtful that those makeshift steps to the upstairs of the cottage would pass any building regulations at all today. Certainly, they are a health and safety hazard, out of keeping with the architecture that is protected by English Heritage. It would be wise to replace these with the tradition set of Tudor-style circular steps, which could be done easily and without great cost.
Should any further important notations come to light, my family shall continue to note them. The listing itself is a misnomer. The listing should be: DE LACY COTTAGE & DE LACY HALL (aka "Ye Olde Cruck House.:
BERYL PHILLIPS, 3 September 2010