36 And 38, Colchester Road

House, formerly 2 dwellings, now a single residence of the late 15th century or earlier with later alterations.

The building has an exposed timber frame with tiled roofs. It was probably constructed as a hall-house with a cross-wing to the north (which had a ground floor shop) and a parlour to the south, now demolished. A rear wing was added at a later date.

The main range has a brick plinth and close-studwork to all wall framing, though this has been replaced at the south gable end. The façade comprises 3 bays with jetties, an off-centre entrance with a four-centred arched head and upward bracing to the first floor. The windows are 20th century casements, except for one 19th century sash window on the first floor. A chimney stack between the main range and rear wing may date from the 16th or 17th century based on its brickwork.

The cross-wing has an off-centre entrance door with a partial arched head remaining, and central 20th century windows to the ground and first floors. The north elevation has down-bracing to the wall frame. A rebuilt end stack is probably of 17th or 18th century date. The rear elevation is weather-boarded at first floor level and brick at ground floor, with a large central opening.

The rear wing has a tile-covered hipped roof with a gablet. The north elevation features a jetty with a curved jetty bracket. The close-studded wall frame has slightly curved downward bracing on the ground floor and some breeze block panelling. The south elevation has transom and mullion windows on both floors with close studding pegged into midrails. A 20th century lean-to has been added at the rear.

Internally, much of the sole plate has been replaced. The building retains jowled storey posts and substantial wall posts. The floor frame has heavy chamfered and stopped bridging beams, though some 20th century replacement timbers are present. The façade has an exposed jetty plate with wattle and daub or brick panels. At the south end of the front wall frame, four timber studs and the panels between them are decorated with black, red and white painted square and rosette motifs with white dot decoration, though there is no evidence this scheme continues on the interior of the wall frames.

Between the main range and rear wing is a large stone and brick inglenook fireplace with a bresummer showing evidence of taper-burns. This fireplace was partly in-filled in the 19th century at both ground and first floor levels. A diamond mullion window lies to the left with a shutter groove. The smaller inglenook to the cross-wing has 19th and 20th century brick patching and an arched opening, with an early 19th century hob-grate inserted at first floor. The common rafter roof with collars has some plank and softwood replacements at the south gable end of the main range. The tie beams are cranked with arched bracing and the wall plate remains largely intact. The interior of the rear wing was not inspected.

St Osyth was an important small town in the medieval period, centring on a 12th century Augustinian Priory, later Abbey, dedicated to the Saxon martyr St Osyth. In the 14th century the town was ranked as the eighth richest in Essex, a status owing much to the Abbey but also to the fishery, maritime and wool trades and local cheese and butter production. A small but wealthy merchant class emerged in the town during the 16th and early 17th centuries. This building was of considerable status, probably having a shop on the ground floor of the cross-wing. Originally a hall-house, the southern parlour was demolished and a rear wing added at a later date. Chimney stacks were inserted in the 16th and 17th centuries. Some replacement wall-framing and casement windows are 20th century additions.