Old Redgate Farmhouse

PURLEIGH FAMBRIDGE ROAD TL 80 SE (east side) 2/89 Old Redgate Farmhouse ­ II House. C16, altered in C20. Timber framed, plastered with exposed frame and imitation framing, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. Comprises the 2-bay crosswing of a hall house which formerly extended to the N, facing W, with a C20 rear extension. 2 storeys. Ground floor, one C20 casement and one restored late C16 window of 3 lights with moulded mullions and modern glazing. First floor, one C20 casement. C20 door at front of lean-to porch on left return. The front elevation is jettied, the joists sawn off square below the bressumer. Much of the exposed studding is original, but some re-used timber has been introduced since 1970, and the external 'Suffolk' bracing is not authentic. Mortices and free tenons indicate the former existence of a large oriel window below the jetty, with 3-light windows to each side, only one of which is now present. On the first floor, the present window replaces an original window of similar size, and there is evidence of a former 3-light window to each side, now studded over. The end collar and collar-purlin of a crownpost roof are exposed. The left return (which formerly abutted on the hall) has been extensively altered, including the insertion of studding, and a re-sited window with ovolo mullions, but 2 'Suffolk' tension braces trenched inside the studs of the upper storey are original. The original rear wall is now entirely open, but mortices indicate that it probably had an original chimney, whether of brick or timber framing. The right girt has diamond mortices of a former window. Jowled posts. Chamfered binding beam with roll stops. Plain joists of horizontal section, jointed to it with soffit tenons with diminished haunches (probably plastered to the soffits from the outset). No wallplate scarfs. Crownpost roof with chamfered rectangular posts, chamfered axial bracing, collar-purlin with simple splayed and tenoned scarf, the remainder rebuilt in softwood. Good series of carpenter's assembly marks, mainly scribed, but chisel-cut on the wallposts and braces. The constructional features are consistent with a date in the second half of the C16, probably c.1570. The Ordnance Map of 1896 shows a N wing, possibly the former hall, demolished before the 1920 edition. The house has been extensively restored since 1970. Before this it was weatherboarded, and was associated with a farm of 66 acres. Report and measured drawings by S. Potter deposited in Essex Record Office.

Listing NGR: TL8605400744