Birdshill

Birdshill

House, probably 14th century with 18th and 20th century additions. The building is timber framed with colourwashed render and a plain tile roof, comprising single storey and two storey sections.

The Road Front

The road frontage shows work of two distinct periods. The 14th century hall occupies the far right, set slightly back, while the 18th century addition extends to its left. A projecting plinth runs across the entire front. The 14th century portion has two 20th century sash windows of 4x5 panes with arched heads, and a ridge stack at the left end, largely rebuilt in 20th century bricks. The 18th century section to the left also carries 20th century fenestration. A slightly recessed bay at the right has 3-light casement windows at both ground and first floors. To its left are four separate windows at ground floor level: a 4-light casement at the far left, a 3-light casement at centre, and a single-light window at right. The first floor has two 3-light casement windows flanking a central single-light casement. The right hand gable end of the 15th century portion has lower walling entirely of 20th century date, projecting slightly. The gable itself features a window with basket arch and pargetted foliate decoration on either side.

The Left Hand Side

A projecting single-storey gabled wing at the right has a single-light window with hood mould and label stops. The gable end above shows exposed 18th century timber framing. A 20th century service wing projects from the left.

The Rear

A 20th century wing projects at the right with a lean-to against the gable end. To its left is recessed walling with two 2-light ground floor casement windows and two 2-light first floor casement windows. Further left stands the older 14th century portion, which has a projecting 20th century single-storey gabled wing at right with a 2-light window and fleur-de-lys decoration above. A first floor window of 2 lights follows, and then two ground floor windows of 2 lights each, all of 20th century date. All windows on this face are of 20th century date.

Interior

The hall contains at its south end an added half-bay with hipped roof of 16th century date, featuring purlins and arched braces. The earlier 14th century roof spans one and a half bays, with a central cambered tie beam supported on wall posts that have been cut back. Further wall posts and arched braces, installed as planted timbers in the 20th century, provide additional support. The tie beam bears a crown post with a broach-stopped octagonal base rising to a collar plate with axial arched braces. The tie beam shows a lengthy mortice hole to the centre of its underside, probably indicating the extent of earlier arch braces that would have formed a pointed arch. Collar beams connect the common rafters. The wall plate has an edge-halved scarf joint with square, vertical butts. The timbers show soot-blackening.

The present entrance hall has a floor of Roman tiles laid in herringbone pattern, brought from West Mersea Hall in 1972. The first floor solar features a heavy wall plate with edge-halved scarf joints with square vertical butts, jowled corner timbers, and close-studded framing with channels for halved angle braces. The 18th century wing contains some re-used timbers to both floors and pine beams, with the wall plate showing face-halved scarf joints.