Essex House

Essex House is a mid-18th century house, later altered in the early and late 19th century, and now used as flats. It is located on the north side of Fore Street, Chard. The construction is of pebbledash, with a Ham Hill stone parapet, rusticated quoins and cornice, and a hipped slate roof. The building follows a double-depth plan with a central entrance and stair hall.

The facade is symmetrical with a five-window arrangement over two storeys. A doorcase features Tuscan-style columns fronting rusticated pilasters to an entablature. A Venetian window, likely from the late 19th century, has Tuscan-style columns and a heavy cornice. A two-window extension to the left mirrors the style of the main facade, with ground-floor sash windows featuring two panes per sash. The first floor of the extension incorporates single sash windows, eight panes over eight.

The rear elevation displays keyed lintels over late 19th century four-pane sashes. A tall sash window with margin glazing bars serves the stair hall. A two-storey bay from the early 19th century is also present, featuring margin glazing bars.

The interior retains 18th century cornicing and a mid-19th century cast-iron ceiling rose in the hall. The rear stair hall also has 18th century cornicing and coloured glass in the stairlight. First-floor rooms feature original 18th century moulded wood architraves and a two-panelled door to the front room on the left. This room contains a rare early 18th century wall painting on its rear wall. The painting is divided into three panels by fluted Ionic pilasters and portrays a biblical scene in a provincial Baroque style, with putti appearing in the outer panels and a Madonna and Child in the center. A quotation from Genesis Chapter 21, verse 17, appears in the panel above a doorway, reading "And the / angel of God / called to / Hagar out / of Heaven”.