59, Castle Street

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 CASTLE STREET 669-1/1/81 (North side) 28/11/51 No.59 (Formerly Listed as: CASTLE STREET No.57) (Formerly Listed as: CASTLE STREET No.59)

GV II

Previously listed as 2 houses, now combined into one. House. C16, C17, c1800 and C20 restoration and additions. Timber-framed and plastered with peg-tiled roof. Plan rectangular, of old street range with c1800 rear 2-storeyed addition and further C20 rear additions single and 2 storeys. 2 storeys and cellar. Front S elevation: in 2 units, jettied to E with end jetty brackets, plain to W with eaves coving. Break of builds clear at roof and down frontage. 3 window range. Ground floor, 2 C18 sash windows, moulded architraves, glazing bars, one now 3x2 paned horned sash, one 4x4 panes. Between them, doorway with moulded architrave, door of 4 panels (entry now blocked inside). First floor, 3 windows with moulded architraves, two 4x3 panes and one (W) similar but with horned sashes 2x2 panes. Roof hipped at W end. Jetty at E end has C17 decoration, bressumer dentilled, joist ends ovolo moulded, 3 small consoles and a moulded shell immediately above under eaves. Decorative plaque dated 1630. Frontage now with C20 roughcast but clear traces of panel pargetting showing through. W end elevation: eaves cove continuing round from front across whole elevation, 2-storeyed rear addition. Internal porch with C20 ogee head, C20 6-panel door within, cellar light grille adjacent, also, small first floor fixed pane window. C18 stack through roof pitch towards rear. To N, wall to side alleyway of cobble and brick, now part of structure with boarded door and lean-to conservatory roof above. Rear, N elevation: complex, comprising C20 conservatory and adjacent kitchen with balcony above leading from projecting rectangular room clad in imitation weatherboarding. Whole group has large single sheet glass windows and fully glazed doors. Above, to W, hipped gable end of older house visible. INTERIOR: much rebuilt, but break between E and W units clear, with pair of independent house frames visible at rear on first floor. Jowled corner posts, arched bracing at W end on first floor imply that the house originally went on to W (site of alleyway). Step stopped chamfer on bridging joist on W end places this unit probably before 1560. E unit has large rear lateral fireplace on ground floor (now removed above) timber lintel with rebuilt jambs. Rear 2-storey addition c1800, timber-framed with some primary braced walling exposed and original rear wall plate with stud mortices. The house front appears to have been very ornate in the C17 and the surviving first floor consoles would nave supported slightly projecting oriel windows. RCHM notes 4 surviving consoles.

Listing NGR: TL5373438715