Blackwater Cottage

Blackwater Cottage is a house, originally built in 1585 and altered in the 19th and 20th centuries. It now comprises two dwellings. The house is timber-framed and plastered, with some exposed timber framing, and has a roof covered in handmade red plain tiles. Originally part of a four-bay range facing north, the house was extended to the right, but one bay was demolished to create a vehicle access, and another is now incorporated into the adjacent property at number 18. A two-bay wing is positioned at the rear of the left end, with a catslide extension behind the main part of the house.

The ground floor has two early 19th-century tripartite sash windows with 4-12-4 panes (or replicas), and one early 19th-century sash window with 16 panes. The first floor has four 20th-century casement windows. There are two 20th-century half-glazed doors, recessed under an underbuilt jetty. A prominent, original bressumer is carved in high relief with the date 1585, defaced initials, grotesque beasts, and scrolls. Above this is exposed close studding. A 20th-century window on the right return has a strip of attached foliate carving. On the rear wing's right elevation, a first-floor window contains an 18th-century wrought iron casement with rectangular leading.

Internal features include original jowled posts, chamfered axial beams with run-out stops, plain joists, cambered tiebeams, and clasped purlin roofs with arched wind bracing, including some lightly smoke-blackened rafters re-used from a medieval hall. An inserted softwood post is present in the rear wing. The construction is generally plain, apart from the carved bressumer. The building was converted into cottages in the early 19th century, and restored around 1974 with the assistance of Essex County Council and architect James Boutwood. It was formerly known as The Blue House and later as The George Public House.