Number 42A (Singer Sewing Machine Shop) And Part Of Number 40 (Mr B'S Textiles Limited Shop) Attached To North

Number 42A, known as the Singer Sewing Machine Shop, and part of Number 40, which houses Mr. B's Textiles Limited shop, are located on the west side of Rayleigh High Street. The buildings date from the 16th century or earlier, with brick facing added in the 18th or 19th century and later alterations. They feature a timber frame with painted brick facing and a hipped roof covered in red plain tiles, with no chimney stack. The structure has two storeys and includes a moulded eaves cornice.

On the first floor, there is one small paned vertically sliding sash window, while the ground floor has a 20th-century shop front. The left return displays end pilasters and a range of two small paned vertically sliding sash windows. There are also two circular cast iron tie plates. The building consists of two sections. The rear ground floor room has heavy moulded bridging joists and flat ceiling beams, while the front room features a heavy stop-chamfered bridging joist and ceiling beams. A heavy arched brace tie beam supports the first floor, possibly with a crown post above. Some heavy wall studs and a side girt are exposed.

The adjacent shop has a 20th-century ground floor shop bay extension and two small paned vertically sliding sash windows, but it has been extensively altered. However, it retains its ground floor ceiling, and on the first floor south wall, there are two wall studs covered with coloured foliate painting, likely dating from the 16th century, which are attached to Number 42A.