Outbuilding 30 Metres East Of Bocking Hall

BRAINTREE AND BOCKING,FORMER UD

CHURCH STREET (North West Side) 691/5/10008 BROKING CHURCH STREET 25/10/51 Outbuilding 30 metres east of Bocking Hall

II

Outbuilding, of unknown original purpose but later an oasthouse. Early C14, C15, C17 and C18. Of timberframing with gabled plaintiled roof and plaintiled lean-to extension at east end. South elevation has white painted weatherboarding over render and part ground floor, at east end, is of C17 'Tudor' type red bricks in English bond. Two pairs of boarded carriage doors and small window. The east elevation has rendered gable over white weatherboarded first floor and ground floor of C 18 red brick. Lean-to with plaintiled roof is of C18 red brick with rendered gable triangle. North elevation of tarred weatherboarding, but with ground floor, at east end, of red English bond C18 brickwork. One small window on first floor with 3 iron security bars. The west elevation is all of render with end of collar purlin projecting through. Substantial remains of timberframed, single aisled building of early C14 of 2 equal bays and 1, probably cantilevered, half-bay, probably originally with similar cantilevered halfbay at other (west) end and with return aisles. Posts jowled with two different types. Arcade has straight braces and there is one splayed scarf joint visible in the arcade plate. Unaisled south wall has slightly curved arch braces and studs, some of which may be of this first phase. Central, formerly open, truss has passing braces, now truncated, and lower braces to tie beam. Former partition? trusses at each end have passing braces only. Top plates beyond easternmost truss have angle tie seatings. One reused rafter pair is soot blackened and has trench for rafter brace. The building may originally have been a small single aisled hall (preceptory as at Faulkness Hall, Good Easter?) or single aisled barn. In the C15 the building was truncated at the west end and reroofed with crownposts and hip and gabled at east end where the building was slightly extended. The central open truss crownpost has thickish longitudinal archbraces and low-set tension braces to the tie beam. Tension bracing in an open truss is unusual in this part of Essex at this date and the crownpost could be reused. The gablet has 2 collars and these are matched on the next rafter pair, suggesting some form ofbonnet, Also at this stage the aisle was removed, the arcade infilled and girts to support a floor were inserted. The new north wall was provided with 2 diamond mullioned windows and with a third in the new east wall. Later the building was further extended eastwards with a ground floor of brickwork. This new part was a kiln or oast and had purlins and corner ties arranged to form the octagonal base of a cowl or louvre. A new window on the first floor of this part has a boarded shutter and rail. Former Manor of Christchurch Canterbury.

Listing NGR: TL7579425696