17, Market Hill

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 MARKET HILL 669-1/1/279 (West side) 28/11/51 No.17

GV I

Shop, was once part of the Sun Inn, which included Nos 25-31 (odd) Church Street (qv). Rectangular plan of 2 parallel blocks. To W mid C14, to E C16, comprising a service cross-wing of a C14 medieval hall extending to W and an addition to its E side occupying the Church St, Market Hill corner site. Both units decorated in C17 and restored in C19 in common with whole Sun Inn assemblage. 2 storeys. Timber-framed and plastered with C17 and probably later pargetting, peg-tiled roof. N elevation to Church Street: W unit, jettied service cross-wing, ground floor, 3-light window each light with 2-centre arched head with central mullion, trefoiled sub-lights and upper quatrefoil. Central window head original to C14, whole of rest C19. First floor, 3-light window with C19 cast-iron hexagonal latticed panes. To E, additional late medieval cross-wing with ground floor 3-light casement window and upper transom, plain glass. Doorway adjacent, set diagonally on street corner to Market Hill. Jetty carried by 2 diagonal braces from door-case, all C19 work. First floor, 3-light window with cast-iron hexagonal latticed panes. Joists of service and additional cross-wing original to builds, both now covered with a facia board dated 1600, decorated with leaf ornamented wave. First floor pargetted with reticulated motifs containing flower and geometrical patterns. Large C19 brick stack in Tudor style rises from gully between roof pitches. E elevation, to Market Hill: jettied side of added cross-wing, C19 Tudor restoration continued from front in Church Street. Ground floor, N-S, diagonally set door with adjacent 4-light shop window in similar style to one adjoining door on front, framed and boarded door with divided over-light. Tall narrow fixed window, moulded frame and sill, plain glass. First floor, one 3-light and one 2-light window, both with cast-iron hexagonal latticed casements. Jetty joists covered by facia board similar to one on N elevation, also, similar reticulated pargetting. Rear, S elevation: C14 gabled cross-wing with additional block to E mainly obscured. Cross-wing plastered, irregular fenestration. Ground floor, plain C20 door with 2 upper glazed panes, adjacent rudimentary glazed opening. First floor, one sash window 3x4 panes, one casement 3x2 panes, also, intermediate C20 casement window 3x2 panes. INTERIOR: features obscured but the upper structure of C14 cross-wing visible in roof of crown-post construction and similar to that over hall and further cross-wing over Nos 29 & 31 Church Street, to W. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Ratcliffe E: Essex: London: 1965-: 337; Hewett C: English Historic Carpentry: Chichester: 1980-: 177).

Listing NGR: TL5381838582