Perses

TL 51 NE GREAT CANFIELD

2/6 PERSES

II

Cottage, late C16, extended and altered in C17 and C20. Timber framed, plastered, roof thatched, Originally comprised 2 bays only, storeyed in S bay, open to the roof in N bay, with original brick chimney stack at N end, late C16. Floor inserted in open bay, dormer inserted in W pitch of roof, early C17. Extended to N by one bay, C17. External chimney stack at S end, C19/20. Extension to E of N bay, forming an L plan, C20. Single storey with attics. In S gable end, one french window with 2 casement windows above, all C20. In E extension, door with large fixed lights each side under shallow porch, 3-light casement window, 2 gabled dormers with casements. Some framing exposed internally. In original cottage, jowled storey posts, curved tension bracing trenched inside studs. Inserted axial beam is stop-chamfered. Original floor boards in N bay. The occupation of this site is fully recorded from 1504 to 1823 (Eland, p. 122). Until 1595 it was a holding of 4 acres; from then it became a holding of only 1½ acres burdened with reaping service. This change of status appears to correlate with the building of the 2-bay cottage which forms the earliest part of the present structure. There is a very similar building at The Cottage, Stane Street, Little Canfield, described as recently built in a survey of 1590 (Essex Record office D/DHt M20), and other similar buildings without documentation are known. This transitional type of cottage, with one bay open to the roof but with an original end chimney stack, is of particular interest historically, and seems to occur earlier in Essex than is recognised elsewhere. -

Listing NGR: TL5656619309