The Chestnuts

TM 07 SW 3/76 15/11/54

WALSHAM LE WILLOWS THE STREET (NORTH SIDE) The Chestnuts

II

House. Circa 1600 and early C18, with later extensions. Timber-framed and rendered; old plaintiles; colour-washed brick gable-end on south with tumbling to apex; complex rear. 2 storeys and attic to main range; 3-cell form. One internal and 2 end chimney stacks, all with plain red brick shafts; modillion cornice. 3 flat-headed C18 dormers with 2-light square-leaded casement windows. Various casement windows, 2-light and 3-light, all with transomes, some old; 2 single-light windows to the upper floor also. 6-panel door with raised fielded panels, the top 2 glazed, in a moulded surround with flat pediment. Interior in 2 distinct sections. To the right of the entrance door, 2 bays of C16 timber-framing: boxed-in beam below, exposed studding above, with slides for diamond-mullioned windows; roof with clasped purlins and arched windbraces. The chimney-stack relating to this part was removed to create an early C19 hallway and stair, and the present internal stack is a smaller reconstruction using old bricks. A change in floor-levels and roof- type marks the join with the remainder of the frame, an addition/part replacement of the early C18. A section of splat balusters, presumably from the original stair, reused for the back staircase; the main stair has stick balusters and a wreathed handrail. 2 fine cast-iron grates have been brought from elsewhere. On the rear wall at the left end, now enclosed by later extensions, some good comb pargetting in panels. Roof over this part has slightly stepped butt purlins. At rear, a small 1½-storey timber-framed and rendered wing has an original 3-light early C18 casement window with transome, pintle hinges and square leaded panes, now inside part of the rear extensions. To the right of this wing (facing from rear), a single-storey brick and rendered gabled wing with a very tall bottle-shaped end chimney-stack; to the left a wide brick wing, formerly detached, now linked to the back wall. The house is set sideways-on to the road.

Listing NGR: TM0030471330