Ancillary Building 25 Metres West Of Church Hall Farmhouse

This is an ancillary building located 25 metres west of Church Hall Farmhouse, dating from the early 16th century. Originally thought to be stables, it now serves as a garage and store. The building is timber framed and weatherboarded, with a roof made of handmade red plain tiles. It consists of four bays aligned northwest to southeast, featuring two aisles. There is a lean-to extension at the northwest end, which is roofed with red clay pantiles. The structure is one storey high and includes jowled arcade posts and wallposts, heavy studding, and wide arched braces supporting the arcade-plates and tiebeams. The arcade-plates have slightly splayed and bridled scarfs. Inside, there are original transverse partitions and a crownpost roof with wide axial bracing in the two northwest bays, while the two southeast bays have later thin axial bracing. This building is too small to be a barn, and the high quality of the timber and carpentry suggests it was used for a prestigious purpose, likely as stables for riding horses. Records indicate that purpose-built stables for the Crown existed from the late 13th century. The manor associated with this building was held by the Abbot of Westminster. The nearest similar structure in Essex is at Navestock Hall, which belonged to the Bishop of St. Paul's. Measured drawings by Anne Padfield will be kept at the Essex Record Office and the National Monuments Record.