Copeland House

Copeland House is a house dating from the 14th century, with later alterations. It features mid to late 19th century weatherboard over a timber frame and has a gabled old tile roof with a 17th century brick ridge stack. The house is designed as an inline open-hall with a cross passage and service end. It has one storey and an attic, with a two-window range. The front includes two mid to late 19th century plank doors and 20th century casements, along with a mid to late 19th century gabled dormer that has a two-light casement. The rear has two plank doors and mid to late 19th century raking dormers, as well as a mid-20th century flat-roofed extension on the left side.

Inside, the house is notable for its rare 14th century timber frame, which is finished to a high standard of carpentry. The two-bay former open hall features moulded wall plates, an arch-braced cambered moulded tie beam, and four-way bracing to an octagonal-shafted crown post with moulded capital and base. A virtually unique A-framed wall with vertical studding is located between the cross passage and service bay, retaining joisting from the original floor and mortices on the soffit of a centrally-placed lateral beam, indicating its original division between the buttery and pantry. There are also two original doorways leading to the cross passage. Only one other example of A-frame construction has been recorded in Essex.