Green Street Cottage

TL 4522 LITTLE HADHAM GREEN STREET (south side)

11/17 Green Street Cottage (formerly listed as 22.2.67 Cottage block E of Green Street Farm)

GV II

House. Later medieval, altered and E end rebuilt in early C17. One and a half storeys and single storey timberframed, plastered, facing N with half-hipped thatch roof dropping with 2 steps from E to W. Formerly an open hall house, with 2 storeys cross wing on W possibly jettied on N front. E part rebuilt as one and a half storeyed parlour block in early C17. Chimney built in cross passage, floor inserted in hall, and upper storey of W cross wing destroyed in mid C17. Lozenge-shaped date panel on N wall of E wing 'SIE 1660' is of similar design to that on The Old Farmhouse to W and probably marks a change of ownership. Present lobby entry 3-unit plan dates from C17 but upper part of central chimney has been rebuilt and a former oven projecting on S of it destroyed above ground. N front has small C19 casement windows and a plank door. Cut back joist-ends with plates above and below mark the former jettied (?) W cross wing. A step down in the ridge marks the line of this wing. The interior has close- studded walls and partitions exposed with much original wattle and daub. Stop chamfered axial beam and squared joists in the hall (middle room). Parlour at E end has bar stopped chamfered cross beam and squared joists. A band of wall painting in grisaile, a running scroll on white ground, runs along beam and round all 4 walls of parlour just below joists, and 1 full panel of circle-and-trellis interlace survives on E wall (dated to 1600-1625 by E Clive Rouse (RCHM Typescript)). 2 smoke-blackened couples in roof-space on W of chimney show it had a collar-rafter single-framed roof. Heavy jowled mid-posts of former 2-bay W cross wing survive in roof. To c.1960 called Walnut Tree Cottage. Said to be formerly the horse keeper's house for Green Street Farm. Late medieval house showing clearly its adaptation to a 3-unit lobby entry plan.

Listing NGR: TL4545022019