The Forge

The Forge is a house located in Kelvedon Hatch, dating from around 1700 and 1800. It features a combination of timber-framed and brick roughcast construction, with a peg-tiled roof. The building has an L-plan layout and is a single storey with an attic. The original 3-celled timber-framed section from around 1700 is complemented by a single-storey brick block from around 1800 that projects forward at the southeast end.

Chimneys are located at the rear of the central timber bay, likely contemporary to the structure, and on the southeast gable of the timber range, as well as on the northwest side of the brick section, all constructed of red brick. The front elevation has four windows; on the left side, set back in the timber range, there are two sash windows with glazing bars, each with 3x4 panes, along with a 20th-century door and gabled porch in between. There are also two attic dormers with 20th-century casements, glazing bars, and 2x3 panes. On the right side, in the forward projection, there are two sash windows with glazing bars, also with 3x4 panes, while the window to the right is a 20th-century replacement of a former doorway.

Inside, the interior displays rudimentary timber-framing with members that are correctly squared but of slight scantling. The bridging joists have simple chamfer stops and a lamb's tongue in the northwest bay. Common joists feature diminished haunches and pendant soffits. There is a partition on the ground floor between the southeast and central bays with an original door frame, designed to support two meeting bridging joists over the door head. The southeast bay includes a stair trap in the east corner, and the roof has a simple trapped side purlin. An attic doorway has been cut through the tie-beam between the central and southeast bays.

At the rear, there are two out-shuts: one to the northwest, which is deep and has an exposed sloping tie-beam within, a slate roof, and three 20th-century wooden casements; and another shallower out-shut to the northeast with a 20th-century brick wall and a long 3-light casement window, with the peg-tiled roof of the main range continuing over it. Above the main roof, there is a flat-roofed 20th-century dormer window with three casements and top lights. A small gabled addition at the southern end features a 20th-century window, a casement with glazing bars and 8x4 panes.