The Old House

TM 38 SE 2/20

SPEXHALL CHURCH LANE The Old House

GV II

House. Early C16. 2 storeys; attic to part; 3-cell plan with cross entry. Timber-framed, with render on the upper floor, a C19 colourwashed brick facing to the ground floor, and a brick extension on the north end of the same date. Clay pantiles. An internal chimney-stack with a plain red brick shaft. Cast iron C19 2-light and 3-light small-paned casement windows in deep reveals on the ground floor. A small original window with ogee-moulded mullions beside the entrance doorway; C20 plank door in the original surround, with shallow arched spandrels to the head. Framing exposed inside: good close studding; reversed braces at the corners; no middle rail; 5 bays, including a narrow chimney-bay. To the south of the cross-entry the partition wall has housings for arched spandrels for 2 doorways, one now blocked, but within the service area there is no evidence for a partition, and the ceiling appears to be renewed, as is the ceiling at the north end. In the 2-bay middle room, the main beams and joists have a wide chamfer and stepped stops; doorways with arched spandrels removed; an open fireplace with plain timber lintel on each side of the stack on the ground floor, and an upper fireplace in the north end. On the rear wall at the south end a 4-light diamond-mullioned window with mullions in situ, and remains of several more. Roof in 5 bays with main components numbered: diminished principals, clasped side purlins, arched windbraces.

Listing NGR: TM3788380033