Hutton Hall And Attached Stable Block

Hutton Hall and Attached Stable Block

A house dating from the 17th, 18th, and early 20th centuries, with an attached 19th-century stable block. The house is constructed of narrow red bricks (0.064–0.057 metres or 2.5–2.25 inches thick) in English bond with a peg tile roof.

The plan consists of three conjoined parallel gabled ranges aligned north to south, with the west range projecting at the south end. The building is two storeys with attic accommodation.

The north-west front elevation presents a rectangular block with three equal gables topped with shaped brick copings. 18th and 19th-century stacks rise from the west flank wall and between the central and east gables. Brick string courses appear above and below the first-floor windows, and a brick plinth runs along the base. The front displays a seven-window range arranged 2:3:2, with flush sashes set within wide frames and thick glazing bars—ground-floor windows of 3x5 panes and first-floor windows of 3x4 panes. There is no voussoir support over the present windows. A late 19th-century round window with four keystones and an architrave, centre-hinged with radial glazing bars, sits in each gable; above each gable are older straight window voussoirs. The central wooden front door-case features an open dentilled segmental pediment, dentilled entablature, Ionic columns and pilasters. The door has upper glazing (3x5 panes) and two lower fielded panels. The first-floor window above displays a swag with basal scroll on each side. At the east end of the ground floor, a doorway was inserted around 1900 with a plain surround and a door similar to the central front door. The ground-floor window at the west end has a voussoired window head; a straight joint in the brickwork and wooden sill indicate past alteration.

The south elevation, facing the rear, is similar to the front but includes a west gable projection with a lower 19th-century two-storey continuation in matching style. The three gables have two-light casements with glazing bars (4x4 panes) and voussoired heads. The west and central windows are not centrally positioned within their gables. String courses and windows match those on the front elevation. Four sash windows of 3x4 panes appear on the first floor, one with rudimentary voussoirs. At ground-floor level in the central unit is an early 19th-century segmented-headed window with reeded frame and triple sashes with glazing bars (1x5, 4x5, 1x5 panes). Stacks rise in gable gullies and one in the roof pitch east of the centre gable apex.

The east side elevation continues the fenestration system of the front and rear with a four-window range and a parapet. Behind the parapet sits a central four-light flat-roofed dormer window, each light with 2x2 panes.

The west elevation faces the stable yard and is similar to the east end elevation, though the north end features kneelers to the coping. A large 19th-century projecting stack is present, and the elevation shows considerable disturbance from alterations. At ground-floor level, running north to south, are a blocked window, a 19th-century double sash window with glazing bars (each 2x4 panes) with a voussoired head cut into the string course, three sash windows with glazing bars (3x4 panes). The first floor, north to south, has a blocked window with voussoired head, a voussoired sash window with glazing bars (4x4 panes), a double sash window matching the ground floor, a window aperture now containing a door to a fire escape stair, a second paired sash window (4x4 panes), a small 19th-century segmented-headed sash window with glazing bars (2x4 panes) behind the parapet, a dormer with double casement, and a flat-headed dormer of three casement lights.

A 19th-century extension extends to the south in red brick, matching the style of the 17th-century house. Some older brickwork similar to that of the 17th-century building appears on the east side. The west end elevation features a gable with moulded brick coping and kneelers, with a mid-height string course. A three-window range of all sash windows with glazing bars (3x4 panes at ground floor, deeper than the first floor; 3x3 paned sash window in the attic gable) is present.

The 19th-century extension's east side has irregular fenestration, including a fully glazed conservatory and lean-to shed with pantiled roof. Two sash windows with glazing bars are present (one 3x4, one 3x2 panes). The first floor, at the south end, has blank walls to the north and two sash windows with glazing bars (3x4 panes). The west side elevation of the extension displays a three-window range with all windows having glazing bars (3x4 panes). At ground floor, a central window is flanked by doors on each side; the north door is segmented-headed with lower bead-moulded flush panels and upper glazing (2x3 panes). The south door cuts into an old window aperture with a heavy door frame containing a nine-panelled door with a central glazed panel.

Interior

The entrance hall dates from around 1700 and features octagonal white stone paving with grey stone interstices. The moulded joists are of 18th-century type but appear to follow an earlier 17th-century joist system. A central Ionic column and a lesser column have been inserted to support the principal joists. 18th-century panelling is present, along with a large wooden chimney piece incorporating 17th-century carved panels but with circa 1900 framing.

An open string staircase of early 18th-century type features twisted and fluted balusters, a shaped handrail, and carved tread brackets; its construction suggests a circa 1900 date. A rear room contains 18th-century style "Gothic" panelling, though anomalies suggest a circa 1900 date of construction. Several 18th-century style fireplaces are present throughout the house.

On the first floor, the front central section has been reorganised as an interior conservatory or garden room. One room contains inserted panelling dated to around 1600. The house contains several 18th-century doors with fielded panels and panelled walls.

The attic roof displays heavy 17th-century joggled butt side purlin construction.

Stable Yard

The stable yard lies on the west side of the house and is enclosed on the south and west sides, with buildings abutting the 19th-century extension to the house at the south-east corner. All stable yard buildings date from the 19th century. On the west side (backing onto a garden wall) are two similar blocks with a way to the garden between them, constructed in red brick with gable kneelers and a 20th-century roof with flat tiles. The north block has two segmented-headed doorways with stable doors; the yard in front is paved with 19th-century bricks. The south end gable has a segmented-headed casement window (4x1 panes) and a low door. The south block has two segmented-headed doorways, one with a 19th-century boarded door and one with a 20th-century door with upper glazed panel. The north end gable has a segmented-headed sash window with glazing bars (3x2 panes).

Inside the stable buildings, there is a fireplace with a rear stack. A brick mounting block with three steps and a York stone top platform sits in the yard against the north end of the east wall.

At the north end of the range, considerably altered, is a coach house with a fireplace on the north end wall. At the south end of the yard, a coach house and stable building extends across the full width, matching the other yard buildings. At the west end is a 19th-century boarded stable door and a casement window with glazing bars (3x2 panes), with four stalls within. At the east end is a coach house, now open-fronted, with a fixed window with glazing bars (4x2 panes) and wooden boarding below, plus a 20th-century boarded door.

Historical Context

The house stands at the north end of a large rectangular moat, now partly infilled, representing the last in a series of houses built on the site. It demonstrates the continual alterations common to properties experiencing periods of prosperity: in the 17th century (basic construction), the 18th century (insertion of windows, front door case, interior doors, fireplaces and panelling), and around 1900 (round windows in gables, hall fireplace, "Gothic" room and staircase). An engraving of the house appears in Muilman's History of Essex (1769–72). Hutton Hall and stable, together with the walled garden, form a group.