| Description | ‘Springs’. Stansfield. Derelict stone building containing pre 18th century architectural features.
Springs was the subject of an archaeological assessment by Karl Lunn (WYAAS) in 2013. The photographic images produced by the assessment are held in the WYAAS digital image archive (Lunn, K.R. (WYAAS). 2013)
The images depict a stone built cottage or shed of two storeys and two units long arranged in a linear plan. The building is situated ON Stoney Lane on the moorland edge above Robinwood, Todmorden. The building is constructed of irregular sized rubble walls on a rubble plinth. Although un quoined the stones at the angles are heavier. The roof would have been gabled prior to its collapse. The building is in an advanced state of dereliction.
Of interest are the surrounds to the windows on the south west facing elevation which fronts Stoney Lane. In the first unit, from north to south are a single light window on the ground floor with chamfered surrounds and a single light window to the first floor which has a plain square surround. The second unit has a two light window with chamfered surrounds and flush chamfered mullion on the ground floor. The first floor has a plain single light window and a single light windows with chamfered surround. It is unclear if the openings are original or reused components from a demolished house. The later is probably more likely as some elements of the surrounds seem to be displaced and discontinuous; holes for glazing bars were identified on the face of a window jamb which is deep and heavy and may have originally been a sill or lintel. The first floor windows on this elevation probably finished at eave height. No doorways were identified on the elevation making a gable or rear back to earth first floor entry likely. On the northern gable wall is a single light window or upstairs taking in door. As the wall has collapsed, the actual height of the opening could not be established.
Internally, there is a simple two unit plan with a rubble stone dividing wall. There is a connecting doorway on the ground and first floor. Although badly weathered, a spine beam which supported the first floor was identified in situ. There are close set slots in the wall for transverse floor joists. The two roof purlins formerly rested on the gable and party walls. The timbers are of very rough scantling. The only purlin still in situ has the two prongs of a tree branch. The inner lintel above the two light window is also a curved timber. Of the two other timbers identified, which lie inside the building, one is straight and appears to have slots (though badly weathered), the other appears to be curved and cruck like (though it may just be a tree branch and not necessarily a cruck). This timber possibly has holes for lathes.
The building has features which could be attributed to the early 18th century or earlier. Which features are original and which are reused can not be firmly established. The plinth wall base is suggestive of a former timber framed structure. The curved timbers could be former braces and/or roof trusses. The timber with the slots could be from a studded wall beam or fire hood bressumer. No stone chimney stack could be identified. The flush chamfered windows probably date to the late 17th to early 18th century, although the masonry is of low quality. The function of the building could not be established either. The building is depicted and named 'Springs' in 1848 (OS 1st edition. 6'. Sheet 229) and is situated on the upland route, Stoney Lane. This runs along the edge of an area of moorland common which was heavily quarried in the 19th century. Adjacent land has the appearance of post medieval intake farmland. Although intake enclosure is typically associated with the 18th and 19th century, Stoney Lane could be an upland stone flagged track way of greater antiquity, possibly a long distant pack horse route. |