Saunders Almshouses

FLAMSTEAD HIGH STREET TL 0714 (North side) 9/20 Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 7 (Saunders Almshouses) (Formerly listed 22.10.52 as Saunder's Almshouses) II* GV

Block of 4 almshouses. Stone plaque in middle of front engraved 'AnoDm/ 1669". For Thomas Saunders of Beechwood. Reconditioned 1952, with outshut set back at rear rebuilt. Narrow dark red brick in an unusually early use of Flemish-bond. Steep old red tile roof. A long single-storey block of 2 handed pairs of almshouses facing S. 2 large shared internal chimneys symmetrically placed on ridge each with 2 conjoined lozenge shaped diagonal shafts with corbelled caps. Moulded brick gable parapets with square piers topped by ball finials at each apex and above each corbelled brick kneeler. 4 windows S front with 2 pairs of round arched chamfered brick doorways opposite the chimneys. Recessed square-headed 2-light windows with chamfered brick jambs and mullions (formerly plastered to represent stone) and leaded glazing in metal frames (renewed), oak plank doors. Excellent brickwork with bull-nose plinth and brick eaves cornice with frieze. Moulded brick corbels to gable kneelers, 2 large rectangles of stone over the western pair of doors may have had armorial bearings. Stone set immediately under central datestone may have inscription now illegible. Each single-cell house was for a poor married couple. Entrance at jamb of fireplace. Beam runs from front to back. Flat-roofed continuous rear outshut in red brick. (VCH (1908)193: RCHM (1911)89: Kelly (1914)101: Pevsner (1977)143: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL0783314611