Swan Cottage - 101 High Street Riseley

Swan Cottage - 101 High Street April 2015

Swan Cottage was listed by the former Department of Environment in June 1974 as Grade II, of special interest. It dates from the 17th century and is built of colour-washed roughcast over a timber frame with a thatched roof. It comprises two storeys and has a later one storey barn at the north-east gable end which has been converted into accommodation as well as a 20th century single storey addition to the south-west gable end.

The Rating and Valuation Act 1925 specified that every building and piece of land in the country was to be assessed to determine its rateable value. The valuer visiting the cottage [DV1/C217/ found that it was owned by Lord Saint John of Bletsoe and tenanted by C Dunkley who paid rent of £5 per annum. The "nice" cottage comprised a living room, a kitchen and two bedrooms. A weather-boarded and thatched barn stood outside. The valuer commented: "Nice little place".