5, Upper Holt Street

This is a house dating to the late 15th century, significantly restored in 1908, located on the north side of Upper Holt Street in Earls Colne. It is a timber-framed building, now plastered with exposed imitation timber framing, and has a roof of handmade red plain tiles. Originally a crosswing of a larger hall house – the remainder of which was demolished – it is gabled and has a jetty projecting over the street. A red brick external stack is located on the left return. A single-storey lean-to extension has been added to the rear on the right side.

The house is two storeys high. The ground floor has a tripartite sash window with a 2:4:2 light arrangement, and the first floor an oriel window with a transom and three casements, both dating from the 1908 restoration. A photograph from 1908 shows the building prior to restoration, revealing closer timber studding, two early 19th-century sash windows with 16 lights, and a plain front door. A photograph from 1909 depicts the building as it appears currently, with the applied imitation framing and new front windows.

Historical records indicate that the original hall house was divided into three tenements by 1675, and this building was likely one of them. The property underwent further renovation at the time of a survey in April 1986.