44, Church Street

TL 8422-8522 COGGESHALL CHURCH STREET (south-east side)

9/65 No. 44

GV II

House. Circa 1400, altered in C16, C17 and C19. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red plain tiles. 2-bay main range facing NW, comprising on the left a one-bay hall (originally open from floor to roof), and on the right a combined entrance and service bay, originally 2-storeyed. C17 stack to rear of hall, C17 wing to rear of it, with internal stack to left, and extension beyond of c.1967. Small lean-to extension to rear of service bay. 2 storeys. Ground floor, one early C19 sash of 12 lights in service bay, and one C20 replica in hall bay. First floor, 2 similar replica sashes. Mid-C19 4-panel door, the bottom panels flush, the others moulded, in simple doorcase with moulded flat canopy; one stone step, almost flush with pavement. The rear elevation of the service bay has on the first floor one early C19 sash of 12 lights. Replica sashes on the rear wing. The front and back doors are still on the line of the original cross-entry. Mortice for missing arched doorhead in storey-post at front. Deep rebate for former back door in storey-post at rear. To left of the cross-entry is a spere-truss from whch the ground-floor studding has been removed. In the front wall of the hall are 2 blocked flank windows, on either side of the present sash, which occupies an original aperture. Each has one ovolo mullion with moulded glazing fillets, and 2 diamond saddle bars; they were inserted c.1620, severing original studs. Wide wood-burning hearth, divided by a later brick wall to form a smaller hearth and storage recess. The floor in the hall was inserted before 1565, and comprises chamfered joists of horizontal section with step stops, arranged longitudinally and lodged at both ends on original rails. At both ends of the hall curved display bracing is trenched into widely-spaced studs. The hall roof has been raised approximately 1.40 metres, leaving a clear impression of the original rafters on the end walls, weathered above and smoke-blackened below. Edge-halved and bridled scarf in tiebeam/wallplate at left end. In the service bay plain joists of horizontal section are jointed into the axial beam with central tenons. This beam is chamfered, with step stops on both sides of the cross-entry, and on both ends of the former axial partition. The studding between the service rooms, and between them and the cross-entry, has been removed. In the wall to the right, near- straight braces are trenched to the outside of widely-spaced studs. Jowled posts. Over the service bay, vortices for axial braces indicate the former existence ot a crownpost roof. The roof has been rebuilt in the C19 with a ridge and clasped purlins, re-using some smoke-blackened rafters. In the front left corner of the rear wing is a C19 pine corner cupboard with plain head, complete with all doors.

Listing NGR: TL8517022724