Abbey House

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL53NW AUDLEY END ROAD, Audley End 669-1/3/344 (South side) 28/11/51 Abbey House (Formerly Listed as: AUDLEY END Abbey House)

GV II

Formerly known as: House a few yards E of Estate Office AUDLEY END. House. Possibly early C17, C19, enlarged 1969-70 to approx 3 times former size, by additions to E and W and big rear W wing. Timber-framed core, but now mainly red brick, clay tiled roof. Plan now irregular L shape. 2 storeys, attics and cellars. Front N elevation: symmetrical, 7 window range, parapet with modillioned cornice, bays 3 and 5 have similar 3-cant bay windows through both storeys. All windows are sashes with glazing bars, 3x4 panes. Centre bay, doorway bricked up but outline remains. Hipped roofed dormer behind parapet over each projecting bay window. Stack with pair of octagonal shafts between final 2 E bays and further stack on E end wall. Triple moulded Tudor' style conjoined shafts seen at centre behind roof apex. At E end, C20 4-centred arched carriageway in red brick, 2-leaf boarded door, pierced parapet above inJacobean' style. Rear, S elevation: units of construction apparent with central double-gabled C19 rear wing with higher earlier twin gables behind. C19 work of dark red brick with decorative shaped barge-boards and finials. Each gable end has ground floor triple window, sashes, 1x4,3x4,1x4 panes and first floor sash 3x4 panes. Large stack behind, lower brickwork C17, upper stack C19 with moulded octagonal shafts. To E, ground floor, large French window, 3 big panes and upper lights and two 3x4 sash windows. First floor, 2 windows with broad frames, 3x4 sashes, 2 simple windows 3x4 sashes. Diagonal shafted stack rises between pairs of windows (this marks E end of pre-1969 house). To W of C19 block, doorway, 3x5 paned sash window above (marking W limit of pre-1969 house). To W, C20 3-bayed brick wing, parapet with modillioned pediment and cornice, sash window, ground floor 3x5 panes, first floor 3x4 panes. Ground floor central window extended to ground by doors as French window. W end elevation: brick, 3 units stepping forwards towards S. All C20 work. 2-storey with parapet and modillioned cornice. N 2 units have sunk panels in parapet. Each unit is of 2 window range, windows segment headed, mainly sashes, 3x4 panes. Central block has Tuscan doorway with half round pilasters, triglyph frieze and flat hood, panelled door (reset from front of house). N block, ground floor has full width conservatory. INTERIOR: though in classical style, the work is all C19 or C20. The house appears to have a C17 origin, similar to adjacent Home Farm (qv) but has been extensively altered and enlarged.

Listing NGR: TL5240537995