Gissings

Gissings is a house located on Rectory Hill in East Bergholt, dating from the late 16th to early 17th century, with later alterations including a refronting in the early 19th century. The building is timber-framed and rendered, with a white brick front and a plain tile roof. It has an L-shaped plan with a cross wing at the rear left and stands two storeys tall.

The front range consists of three bays, with a jetty at the right gable end. Pilasters define the bays, and there are half-glazed double leaf doors at the center, framed by an architrave and a pediment supported on consoles. The windows include 16-pane sashes in reveals under wedge lintels, with unequal sashes on the first floor. An off-centre ridge stack is present, and the left gable end features 12-pane sashes and bargeboards. At the rear, there is a shallow addition from the 19th century under a pent roof.

The cross range includes a gabled porch at the angle with the front range, which contains a half-glazed door, a 16-pane sash window in the center, and garage doors with a fixed window to the left. Above, there are three 20th-century casements and a large ridge stack adjacent to the front wing. A notable feature at the rear is an oval plaque with a plasterers date of 1708.

Inside, 19th-century features include a staircase leading to the central hall, which has short twisted balusters. The kitchen to the right shows a chamfered post, a deep chamfered beam, and exposed joists. There is a steep staircase behind the stack, and further framing is exposed on the first floor, including a massive chamfered jowled post with an arch brace and a cambered tie beam. The walls are studded, and there are two blocked diamond mullion windows with four lights each. The wall plate has an edge-halved scarf joint, and there is a chamfered beam with a lambs tongue stop. The rear range features a four-bay frame with jowled posts and a clasped purlin roof, which includes assembly numbers and wind braces.