Building of the month: 333 Stroud Road, Tuffley

On a road south of Gloucester to Tuffley, this large Grade II listed timber-framed building stands next to the entrance drive to the Knoll Care Home, half-hidden by large trees. It was probably built as a farmhouse in the 17th century, divided into cottages and then restored to a single dwelling in the 20th century. The square panel timber framing of the external walls has brick and rendered infills and stands on a coursed stone rubble plinth. There is a long single-depth range and a later half-gabled cross wing with a flanking lean-to at one end. The front elevation has attractive canted oriel windows. 

The farmhouse has been uninhabited for some time and is on Gloucester City Council’s Heritage at Risk Register. However, it is pretty much dry and watertight throughout and remarkably unaltered. There are some issues with regard to the rear walls where random rubble infill has been displaced by historic movement of the timber frame.

The cost of the repair of this building would be considerable but we understand that the owner (the adjacent care home) may be open to selling to a suitable and sympathetic owner for a nominal fee. The owners are intending to separate the cottage from the care home by way of the creatione of a new access which would enable the sale of the property as freehold with a useful plot of ground and its own access. 

We currently have limited details about the layout and condition of the building. Serious expressions of interest should be directed in the first instance to our Buildings at Risk Officer, Laura Polglase via email casework2@spab.org.uk. Do you know of an old building at risk? Get in touch with Laura.