The Close

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 HIGH STREET 669-1/1/175 (East side) 28/11/51 No.2 The Close

GV II

House. Late C15, and early C16. Timber-framed with framing exposed on front and rendered to rear. Gabled roofs of plain clay tiles. 2 storeys and L' plan form. Front to High Street is of 2 parts, a formerly jettied cross-wing to N and jettied former hall/chamber range. The cross-wing has a 3-light leaded light casement on first floor and evidence for former oriel. Ground floor has been underbuilt and has one similar window. S part has late C17 coved plaster eaves and a 4-light and a 2-light leaded casement. Ground floor has tall narrow similar window, an oval window withspider's web' leading and a reused door with egg-and-dart architrave and pulvinated frieze of bay leaves. Reused C15 post in front of framing with attached shaft and crenellated capital. The N flank of cross-wing has 2 two-light leaded casement on first floor, one with remnants of oriel sill and 12 paned double-hung sash window on ground floor, the latter refaced in painted brickwork. Lower, later, pitched roofed extension to E behind wing. C20 stack on rear of cross-wing and earlier stack on ridge line of main block. Framing, where exposed, is much repaired with some material from other buildings. The cross-wing is late Cl5 or early C16 with arch braced side purlin roof and is now of 2 bays, having been truncated at rear. The main block of C16 is open framed against cross-wing with wall plate raised at rear with dormer incorporating C17 iron casement with fittings and leaded lights. Many fragments of carved timber from elsewhere and small stone arched fireplace. Formerly there was a further timber-framed structure to the S but this would seem to have been a separate build. Thought to have been part converted to chapel in C16.

Listing NGR: TL5368238526