PLANS have been submitted to repair the roof of a 17th century cottage near Whitegate which was damaged by fire.

The owner of Falcon Cottage, located on Dalefords lane between Whitegate and Marton, is seeking to restore the thatched roof to its former glory.

Built around 400 years ago, the Grade II-listed building was damaged by fire in April 2017 which ripped through the roof space.

Firefighters from Northwich, Winsford and Middlewich fire stations tackled the blaze overnight, removed the thatch in the process while conducting regular inspections for hotspots.

But plans for a restoration project have now been submitted, with listed buildings consent required from Cheshire West and Chester Council.

Northwich Guardian:

The property before the fire (Credit: Google Maps)

Planning documents submitted as part of the application describe Falcon Cottage as a ‘most interesting survival’ of small farm buildings of the later 17th century.

These buildings were connected with the tradition in areas of pastoral farming where humans and animals were accommodated in close proximity.

It is possible that the property was connected to Marton Grange and the Delamere Estate.

Documents go on to say that a central a-frame did not survive the fire, nor did the rafters, purlins and ridge beam in the north west bay.

Northwich Guardian:

However, the south eastern a-frame mainly survived, albeit with come charring, as it was probably protected by the chimney stack.

The oak staves and wattle and daub also survived in this section, as did the ridge beam and purlins, despite being charred along with around 50 per cent of the rafters.

A design and access statement adds: “Although a lot of damage was caused by the fire, it is important to recognise that a significant part of the original timber framing and wattle and daub, particularly on the ground floor, has survived.

“It is the intention to replicate timber framing lost in the fire with framing of the same design, constructed from reclaimed timbers of a comparable age which will then blend in with the surviving timbers.

“Where appropriate, the ‘new’ frames will be bolted onto the existing wall plate and the frame will be roofed in Norfolk Reed to match.”