Hopes of brighter future for county's "smallest house"

Bill Kerswell of Picklescott was passing through Plealey, near Pontesbury, the other day when something caught his eye.

"It's the smallest house in Shropshire, a tiny black and white thing. It's next to the entrance of a new housing development, at the junction of the road. It ought to be kept because it's historic. It hasn't been lived in for years," said Bill, who sent us some pictures of the building.

"I should think that it's 300 to 400 years old, looking at it. It's the sort of thing they knock down with a digger in a few minutes. It wants keeping. It may be a listed building for all I know."

And one villager said: "It's at the junction of the crossroads in the village and the field behind it is in the process of being developed as housing. The builders have been on that site preparing the land. It's a quaint little building. It may be protected, I don't know."

The site is opposite The Forge in Plealey and it turns out the little building which has been attracting attention is called The Den and is not only protected - it is Grade II listed - but is a rare heritage gem, a surviving husbandman's cottage.

Details from Shropshire Council show that planning permission has been given for two homes on the land behind The Den - but Mr Kerswell will be reassured to hear that they also show that not only is The Den not in danger, but it has the prospect of a brighter future. In fact, planning permission was given in 2016 for it to be renovated as a holiday home.

The officer's report said: "The Den dates back to around the 17th century, and is considered to be a rare, little-altered surviving example of a tradesman’s or farmworker’s cottage."

It was described as timber-framed with red-brick infill, and a thatched roof which had been covered by corrugated metal for some time. It was of a simple two cell plan. The Den, described as an important heritage asset, had been vacant for some time and had been on the council's "buildings at risk" register since 1993, and the historic environment team was encouraged by the prospect of a renovation.

When plans were put in for the new homes, the owner of The Den sent a letter in support, saying the plan would help pave the way for The Den being repaired and brought back into use.

In its comments on the homes application, Pontesbury Parish Council suggested that approval should be linked to the provision of enough land to enable the restoration of The Den as a holiday home, and said the new houses should be in sympathy with The Den.