Hou Hatch

Hou Hatch is a house dating back to the 17th century, with significant early 19th century and 1903 additions and alterations, as recorded by the owner. The house is constructed of red and yellow brick with hipped slated roofs and some machine-made tiles. The plan is based on an original square layout, substantially modified with two interlocked L-shaped builds following a fire.

The north-east front elevation, dating from 1903, is of red brick, with projecting wings on either end. It features sash windows with glazing bars. A central, round-headed porch projects, with substantial jambs, panelled reveals, and a deep arch highlighted by alternating red and white voussoirs. The door has two leaves, each with upper and lower panels to the central glazing, arranged in a 1x3 pane pattern. A single-bay projection to the north has a triple window on both floors, with panes arranged as 1x6, 3x6, 1x6 on the ground floor and 1x4, 2x4, 1x4 on the first floor.

The south-east garden elevation, largely dating from the early 19th century, is of yellow brick with a parapet. It has six bays, all with sash windows with glazing bars, and decorative blind boxes. The ground floor windows have a console bracketed cornice extending down to ground level, with panes arranged as 3x4. Steps lead from the garden to doorways in two of the ground floor windows. First-floor windows have 3x4 panes. Stacks are located centrally and at each end of this range. A projecting bay at the north-east end of the 1903 block has a ground floor window with 2x6 panes and a window on the south-west projecting face, also with 2x6 panes.

The south-west elevation has a plain range to the north-west, with a parapet that steps down to a lower level. The yellow brickwork incorporates four segment-headed window ranges. These windows are sashes with glazing bars. A 20th-century door with lower panels and upper glazing in a 3x3 pane arrangement is situated on the ground floor, along with a window with 3x4 panes and two more windows also with 3x4 panes. The first floor has windows with 3x4 panes and a blind attic window recess at the south-east end. The north-west elevation is irregular to the north-east end of the 1903 range, featuring a stack with a ground floor hipped roofed lean-to and a single sash window on the first floor. A range to the south-west has rendered brickwork. A 20th-century conservatory with a passage having continuous picture windows is present. A fully glazed 20th-century door with a 3x6 pane arrangement, an iron stair and gallery, a stable-type door with upper glazing in a 3x2 pane arrangement, and a glazed fanlight complete the elevation.

The interior includes a central hall with a flying stair in a large stairwell and slim banisters with a mahogany handrail. A remnant of an earlier house, likely from the 17th century, is visible in the rear central section, displayed as exposed ceiling joists now partially concealed by plasterwork. A fireplace on the ground floor features Dutch tiles.