The Friary (East) And Attached Yard Walls To North West

The Friary (East) and attached yard walls to north-west, Maldon

A substantial early 19th-century house, now in use as a youth centre, with attached yard walls. The building is constructed of grey Gault brick on its south and east walls, with red brick on the north and west walls. It features a slate hipped roof set well behind plain parapets and rises to three storeys, though large 20th-century extensions to the east partially obscure the original east elevation.

The symmetrical south garden front displays considerable architectural refinement. The second floor contains four square 12-pane sash windows and a central semicircular-arched window with radiating glazing bars and two Gothic lights recessed within a further arch, all with rubbed brick arches. The first floor has four deeper 16-pane sashes flanking a central semicircular-arched pair of doors, similarly recessed within an arch and featuring margin glazing and a fanlight above. The ground floor is dominated by a projecting Greek Doric portico with a flat roof, cornice, and entablature with triglyphs. The portico is flanked by a pair of fluted columns (fluted for two-thirds of their length) with respond pilasters either side of a wide central opening. The columns rest on an elevated Portland stone paved platform with three stone steps and flanking blocks with recessed rectangular panels. The portico doors are double with a rectangular fanlight above displaying a semicircular motif and radiating glazing bars. Large chimney stacks project from each flank wall.

The east elevation, serving as the entrance front, is partially concealed by 20th-century extensions. It originally displayed three 12-pane square sash windows on the second floor and one blind recess, with three deeper 12-pane windows on the first floor and one blind recess. The ground floor contains an off-centre doorcase with a strongly projecting hood featuring a panelled soffit on console brackets and a semicircular fanlight with radiating glazing bars. The doorcase has a reeded surround with capitals and suspended capitals on plain flanking pilasters, with panelled reveals. Three 16-pane ground-floor sash windows also appear on this elevation.

The north elevation presents a complex fenestration pattern. The second floor has two 12-pane square sashes, one blind recess, and a near-central 12-pane sash within a partly blocked recessed panel. The first floor contains two 16-pane sashes, one blind recess, and a similar window within an arched recess. The ground floor has one 12-pane sash, one blind recess, one 20-pane window within a recess, and a blocked door with a radiating fanlight. Two large Gault brick chimney stacks appear on the roof face of this elevation.

The west elevation shows evidence of later alteration. The second floor displays one 12-pane square sash, two blind recesses, and a 20th-century metal casement. The first floor has one 16-pane sash, a blocked window opening, one blind recess, and two 20th-century windows. The ground floor contains two semicircular-headed door openings with Gault brick keystones and imposts, one with a radial fanlight and a door of four glazed panels over two flush panels, the other with 20th-century glass infill. Additionally, the ground floor has one 16-pane sash, one blind recess, and one 20th-century four-light horizontal window.

The interior features a broad central corridor leading from the south portico to a square vestibule on the cross-axis, communicating with a similar hall serving the entrance front door. The vestibule contains a blind arcade of elliptical arches supported on capitals, with doors having reeded surrounds and square leaf-form motifs at the corners. A glazed screen on the south side of the vestibule displays an elliptical arch with radiating glazing bars. The two large southern ground-floor rooms retain elaborate plaster cornices and marble fireplaces. The main stair has been substantially altered, though windows blocked on each landing remain visible. Two service stairs are present, one featuring boarded panelling up to the handrail with a tight dogleg plan form and a cage of stick balusters.

An L-plan red brick yard wall in English Garden Wall bond is attached to the north-west corner, enclosing a yard to the west and linking with the west boundary wall. This wall features a pointed-arched gate opening and an oval window with cross-pattern glazing bars in its north-projecting section, with ramped coping on the return portion.