Nos. 42 and 44, CASTLE STREET

TL 5338, 669-1/1/72

SAFFRON WALDEN, CASTLE STREET (south side), Nos. 42 and 44

01/11/72

GV

II

Two houses. C16, C18 rebuilding and enlargement, C20 refurbishment and rear addition. Timber-framed, plastered peg- tiled roof, red brick stack. Plan irregular U form of street range and additions. Two storeys and now attics. Front N elevation. 2-window, 2-door range, gambrel roof, doors and windows C20. No. 42 C20 panel pargetted with basket and combed decoration. Ground and first floor 2-light casement windows, glazing bars, 4x4 panes, simple flush door with upper glazing 3x3 panes. No. 46, plasterwork has remains of C19 ashlar lining, ground and first floor windows 2-light casement, glazing bars, 4x2 panes, simple doorway, door boarded battened and studded. Rear, S elevation: No. 42 has full width 2-storey flat-roofed addition, brushed plaster finish, ground floor fully glazed door, 4 panes 3-light casement window, first floor one single-light, one 2-light casement window. Flat roofed dormer window with 2-light casement window. No. 44, C20 2-storey gabled and jettied unit with French window, 4x5 panes, above, first floor 2-light casement window. 2-section ground floor gabled addition staggered to E, weatherboarded, slate roof, door with upper glazing 2x3 panes and one 2-light casement window 4x3 panes, one single light 2x2 panes, also S end gable window of single casement 2x4 panes. First floor of principal range, single light window. Roof has flat roofed dormer window, 2-lights 2x2 panes, also skylight.

INTERIOR: most framing, floors and partitions of slender C18 type, oak and softwood mixed. Upper attic ceiling joists have carpenters' marks in bold Roman numerals. Lower framing of house of heavy C16 form, old weathered rear face exposed with tension brace, also mullion window found in recent restoration now covered. Central posts back and front have arch brace mortices. Wall plates in position just below present first floor windows with tie-beam dovetails (tie removed), rafter seatings and halved and bridle-butted scarfs. No. 44. is the open hall of a 3-celled medieval house where the front wall plate continues as an irregularity in No. 42. Also a single contemporary storey post in No. 42 survives in front wall with wattle notches for transverse walling. Framing also continues in No.46 (qv). Site of hall window E of centre suggests that No.42 was service bay and No.46 the solar.

Listing NGR: TL5384538752