Millbank

HARWICH

TM23SW OAKLEY ROAD, Dovercourt 609-1/9/197 (North West side) 20/06/72 Millbank

II

House. Early and late C16. Timber-framed and rendered with gabled clay plain tile roofs, hipped on N corner. 2 storeys and of 'L' plan form with garage lean-to on SW end. EXTERIOR: projecting SE gable has imitation framing and a canted C20 oriel window on first floor over a canted flat-roofed bay window, both with casements. Plaster C20 date of 1661 over a flat-roofed porch. Main S elevation has C20 triangular plan oriel window over a C19 double-hung sash window with 3 vertical glazing bars. Late C16 brick stack with 3 diagonal shafts rises from NW corner. This is rebuilt at head, but original base has 2 canted brick corner gablets at springing of shafts. A mysterious plan arrangement seemingly the result of the incorporation of an early C16 structure into a later C16 complex. INTERIOR: the SW-NE block is the remains of a 'baffle entry' house of the late C16 probably of 2 bays plus a central stack bay. The SW bay is now missing with evidence of serious fire damage. The frame here has close studding, evidence or diamond mullioned windows, jowled posts and arch braces to tie beams. The roof has clasped side purlins. The contemporary stack has back-to-back wood-burning fireplaces and a 'solar' fireplace over. Mantel beam on 'hall' side is covered in inscribed protective lines and the initials FR WR 1668 and separate date 1661. Remains of door opening at flank of stack and old rebated board partition between 'hall' and older wing. This is of 3 two-storey bays with mixture of jowled and unjowled posts and arch-braced crown post roof. Remains of diamond mullioned windows, heavy arch braces to tie beams and external wall bracing. At junction with late C16 block is wide opening with arch braces to wall plate, to achieve one large L-shaped first floor room. Angle tie at roof plate level on NE corner. Former partition on ground floor has been moved and shows evidence for further door opening. Probably this was a non-residential building, as first built. (RCHME: Essex NE: London: 1922-: 86 (6)).

Listing NGR: TM2256730308