Brook House

TL 8422-8522 COGGESHALL EAST STREET (south side)

9/115 No. 42 (Brook House) 31.10.66 (formerly listed as No. 42 (Brookdene))

GV II

House. Early C16, altered in C17 and C18. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red plain tiles. A rear extension has a facade of blue bricks in header bond, with dressings of red bricks. Main range of 4 bays facing N, with axial stack in second bay from left end, and stack to rear of right bay. 3-bay wing with axial stack to rear right, C17, connecting at end with C18/early C19 stable range to right. Early C19 extension in rear left angle, and to left of it, C19 extension altered in C20 to a flat roof and balcony. 2 storeys and cellar. Ground floor, one early C19 sash of 10+10 lights, 2 of 6+6 lights, all with crown glass, and one blocked aperture. First floor, 3 early C19 sashes of 12 lights with crown glass, and one blocked aperture. Early C19 6-panel door, the lower panels flush, 4 panels fielded, in reeded doorcase with paterae, and moulded flat canopy with paterae on the soffit. Full-length jetty. Below the jetty the plaster is rusticated; above, ashlared. Plain plaster elsewhere. The early C18 rear extension has on the ground floor one C18 sash of 12 lights, and 2 more on the first floor, all with flat arches of gauged brick. Half-glazed door with marginal lights. Moulded plaster eaves cornice. To front of main range, early C19 cast iron railings, comprising 6 stanchions of cruciform section returning to house each side of door and at each end. The main range originally comprised a 2-bay single-storey 'hall' with service bay to the right and parlour/solar bay to the left. It has been re-arranged in the C17 or C18 to form a central entrance hall, the beams boxed, the partition walls no longer at bay divisions. The left ground-floor room is wholly lined with bollection- moulded oak panelling; the fireplace surround is similar; curved rear splays to hearth. Large wood-burning hearth facing to right, altered. Jowled posts. Edge-halved and bridled scarfs in wallplates. In rear upper wall, blocked unglazed window with 3 diamond mullions; shutter grooves in wallplate. The ceiling inserted c.1600 has chamfered axial beams with lamb's tongue and notch stops. Complete crownpost roof with axial braces 0.03 metre wide, the collar- purlin severed for the inserted stack. Original lime plaster with simple incised patterns in right gable. The first-floor room of the early C18 rear extension is wholly lined with original pine panelling, with similar doors. The rear right wing has chamfered beams with lamb's tongue stops, and plain joists of vertical section; large wood-burning hearth facing forwards. The rear tiebeam has been raised 0.60 metre. C18 lead pump in original wooden case, mechanism partly dismantled. See item 9/117. RCHM 67.

Listing NGR: TL8516022572