TQ 64 SE BRENCHLEY CROOKE ROAD 6/61 The Crook II House. Probably late C17, extended in the 1930s for Janet Simpson, an artist. The C17 part is framed construction, underbuilt in English bond brick on the ground floor, tile-hung above. The 1930s extension is also brick and tile- hung; peg-tile roof; brick stacks. Plan: The house faces south. The right (east) end is a C17 2-cell plan, the larger right hand room heated from an end stack, the left hand room unheated and originally containing the stair in the outer rear corner. The house may have had an integral outshut, subsequently replaced by 2 short rear wings at right angles. The 1930s addition consists of 2 additional rooms at theleft (west) end, one an entrance hall containing the stair with a second room at the extreme left (west) end. Exterior: 2 storeys. Asymmetrical 2:2 window front, recessed porch to left of centre in the 1930s addition with a 1930s timber front door with a 2-light casement with diamond leaded panes alongside to the right. The other windows are all similar iron-framed 2 and 3-light casements with diamond leaded panes. Roof gabled at the left end, half-hipped at the right. Projecting right end stack with set-offs. Interior: Remarkably unspoiled and virtually unaltered since the 1930s. The late C17 section preserves exposed ceiling carpentry including a scroll- stopped crossbeam. The partition between the 2 rooms has been partly removed and the fireplace is 1930s. The internal wall-framing survives with jowled wall posts and, unusual in the region, the soft plaster to the infill is well- preserved throughout. Original floorboards on the first floor and extremely low doorways through the old partitions. Roof: Not seen in detail but appears to be of clasped purlin design over the C17 part of the house, limewashed and plastered up to the apex. Janet Simpson was a successful etcher and engraver, her subjects included Brenchley village. Listing NGR: TQ6917642365