Bell House

KELVEDON HIGH STREET TL 8619-8719 and (south-east side) 8618-8718

8/205 and 10/205 No. 136 (Bell House) 2.5.53 (formerly listed as The Cedars)

GV II

House. Early C17, incorporating part of C15 crosswing, altered in C18 and C19. Timber framed, plastered with facade of red brick in Flemish bond, roofed with handmade red plain tiles. 4-bay range facing NW, with early C17 internal stack at left end in front of axis; C18 bay to right, with C18 axial stack at the junction. Part of C15 crosswing to rear of right end. Early C17 stair tower to rear of second bay from left end, enclosed by late C19 lean-to extension. C18/19 single-storey wing to rear of right end, with end stack, and C19 extension beyond. 2 storeys, cellar and attics. Ground floor, 2 early C19 tripartite sashes of 4-12-4 lights, 2 early C19 sashes of 12 lights, one small C20 casement. First floor, 4 C18 sashes of 12 lights. All windows in flat arches of gauged brick, with much crown glass. One C20 casement in lean-to dormer. Off-centre 5-panel door, the top panel glazed, with plaster pilasters and moulded pediment. Plaster plain band at base of plain parapet with stone coping. Ovolo-moulded cornice on left stack, shaft rebuilt. The left ground-floor room is lined with C18 fielded pine panelling; C18 recessed cupboard with semi-circular head; C20 grate in C19 surround; boxed axial beam. The entrance-hall has a chamfered axial beam with lamb's tongue stops, a bolection-moulded panelled dado, and a late C18 stair with scrolled tread-ends, 2 turned balusters to each tread, wreathed handrail, and similar gallery on first floor. The room to the right has a C19 eared fireplace, plain panelled dado and boxed axial beam. The door to the right end room is half-glazed, with 4 panes of crown glass and 2 fielded panels, C18. The left upper room is lined with C18 fielded pine panelling; the recess behind the stack has a semi-elliptical arch with panelled soffit and fluted pilasters. Late wattle and daub infill exposed in the upper left wall of the stair tower. The attics have original framed floors, the tiebeams and axial beams projecting above the floorboards; original clasped purlin roof. In the rear right wing there is one arched brace 0.07 metre wide to a cambered tiebeam; other parts of the original frame may be present within the plaster. Named after The Bell Inn, formerly here (B.L. Kentish, Kelvedon and its Antiquities, 1974, 44-5). RCHM 21.

Listing NGR: TL8629319002