Chobbing'S Farmhouse

Chobbing's Farmhouse is a Grade II* listed building dating from the late 14th century. It was originally an open hall or kitchen block for a larger dwelling that has since been demolished, and it was extended in the early 17th century. The farmhouse is timber framed and plastered, featuring a weatherboarded dado on the front and a red plain tile roof. It has one storey and attics, with a three-window range of 19th century and modern casements, along with two gabled dormers. A red brick chimney stack from the 18th century is located at the end wall. At the rear, there are lean-to extensions from the 19th and early 20th centuries, which are weatherboarded and topped with a corrugated asbestos roof.

Inside, the original frame remains intact, showcasing jowled storey posts and cambered tie beams. A notable feature is the large central timber and plaster chimney stack, which is framed from the tie beam and mantel beam. This stack has been partially underbuilt in brick during the 17th century, with a brick top added in two phases, one in the 16th century and another in the 19th century. This chimney stack is significant as it is the earliest complete timber stack discovered in Essex and is unusual for its craftsmanship, making it a prominent element of the building's frame. The farmhouse appears to have been a subsidiary structure to a larger house, and its original form, with a floored end bay, resembles a 15th-century kitchen block added to Priors Hall in Stebbing. The building's status as a medieval timber kitchen adds to its importance, as such kitchens are extremely rare.