Description

SELATTYN AND GOBOWEN C.P. WHITEWELL LANE (east
SJ 23 SE
side)
4/49 Swiss Cottage
II
Shown on O.S. map as Brogyntyn Cottage.
Estate cottage. Early C19 with later additions and alterations. Rendered
uncoursed limestone rubble with 2-span gable-front slate roof to front; 3-
sided verandah to rear is of wooden post construction (with bark still attached)
on padstones around central pedimented brick and rubblestone block with quartzite
facing; slate roof. Rustic Gothic style. 2 storeys to front, one storey
to rear. Front section has one mid-C20 casement on each floor to each gable
with 4-panel door (top panels now glazed) and segmental-headed overlight
under late C19 gabled hood immediately to left of centre. Purple engineering
brick valley stack to rear at junction with rear range. Cobbled verandah
has arcade of 3 x 2 bays with pointed arches; corner posts replaced by C20
rendered brick pillars. Quadripartite vaulting with branches acting as
ribs, wooden bosses and halved timbers as infill. Triple-backed timber seat
at end of right 'walk' with remains of another to left. Each walk has
a C19 French window with Gothic Y-tracery, to centre to front walk and to
back to left and right. Nail-studded door with pointed arch to right of
end bay to right side gives access to small room with vaulted plaster ceiling:
quatrefoil pattern and foliated boss. Interior. Appears octagonal in
plan with elaborate plaster vaulting springing from slender clustered columns
with stiff-leaf capitals; foliated bosses. Pointed arched opening to each
face with crocketed ogee finial, those to centre and front with stained glass
windows, remainder with inset bookcases, that to rear left corner having
complete set of false 'books' many with titles alluding to the concealed
location and romantic character of the building.
Bookcases including that to rear corner, which leads to front part of cottage,
open outwards to give access to space behind octagonal walls and to loft
in roof space. Perpendicular-style marble fireplace with quatrefoils to
spandrels set in opening to back wall. Suspended wooden floor. Rear right-
hand room of front part of cottage has plaster boss to ceiling. The octagonal-
shaped room of the cottage is reputed to have been used for clandestine romantic
assignations in C19. Information from tenant (May 1986).

Listing NGR: SJ2713531351

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26593989

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas