Description

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 MUSEUM STREET
669-1/1/304 (East side)
01/11/72 Saffron Walden Museum
(Formerly Listed as:
MUSEUM STREET
Museum)

II

Large building, designed as assembly room and museum in
`Tudor' style. 1833-4. Built by Lord Braybrooke, standing in
the grounds of Walden Castle. Red brick, irregular Flemish
bond, low pitched slate roofs. Plan now of 2 abutting
rectangles, unit to E known to have been an afterthought, but
in similar style. Earlier block, to W, originally rectangular,
then L shaped by addition, but now has internal angle infilled
to create a larger rectangle.
S front elevation, W unit 2-storeyed, symmetrical, 3 bays,
parapet with moulded basal string course, central full height
2 storeyed porch with diagonal buttresses. All windows
rectangular, recessed with chamfered brickwork, major mullions
and transoms are hollow chamfer moulded containing sash
windows with glazing bars. Originally, all principal windows
and the porch doorway had brick labels, the marks of which
remain after C20 removal. Ground floor, each side of porch,
windows with 2 mullions and a high transom, 6x5 panes. Porch
has rectangular chamfered doorway with reactangular
over-light, 2 panes. Door of 2 leaves, each boarded and
battened with iron studs. Second doorway now cut through in
C20 on E side, plain boarded door. First floor, porch, window
of simple cross-form, 4x6 panes, below, inserted plaque. Each
side, windows are similar to ground floor but of 6x6 panes. To
W, edge of projecting bay window on W, side seen, 2-storey,
similar to porch, single cross window on both floors, ground,
4x5 panes, first floor, 4x6 panes. To E slightly later block
set forward and slightly overlapping, tall single storey unit
of 5 bays, central bay breaks forward as full height bay
window (no buttressing). Bay window has 3 mullions and 2
transoms, 8x9 panes. Pair of windows each side have 2 mullions
and 2 transoms, 6x9 panes.
W side elevation comprises 2 units, N end slightly set back
and of second phase. S end plain end wall but with large
2-storeyed, diagonally buttressed bay window. Ground floor
window elongated cross form, 6x5 panes with lowest panes now
containing recessed wooden panels. First floor window of
similar form, 12x6 panes, all glazed. N end of 2 bays, ground
floor windows, 2 mullions and upper transom, 6x5 panes, first
floor windows similar, 6x6 panes. E end elevation,blank gable
with parapet at S end, plain C20 gallery fire escape door and
iron stair.
Rear, N elevation irregular, as a result of additions. W end
3-bayed block, set high on ground falling to N. Roof obscured
by parapet. First floor, 3 original blind chamfered window
recesses. Ground floor, C19 segment-headed sash window, with
glazing bars, 3x4 panes. To E, addition (straight joint),
slate, gabled roof aligned E-W, ground floor, C19 segment
headed sash window, 2x4 panes, return E face of 2-storeyed and
attic windows. Ground floor casement, 4x4 panes, first floor
casement of 2 sections, in all, 3x5 panes. Attic sliding
sashes, 4x3 panes, adjacent to S, most recent infilling, first
floor window, sash with glazing bars, 4x5 panes. Rear, N
elevation, E end addition as E end addition on S. front, low
pitched slate roof. 3 chamfered windows, good voussoirs, 2 now
boarded-in, one at E end has 2 mullions, with 3 fixed glass
panes. Below in centre, simple C20 door.
INTERIOR: original staircase in line with porch, oak, dogleg,
stick balusters, shaped, scrolled handrail, newel posts,
octagonal and tapered. 2 original fireplaces survive in the
earliest block, one of variegated grey marble and panels of
polished septaria stone. The other fireplace, now boarded
over, of Adamesque design. Partitioning of the upper floors of
this block now altered, but cornices defining the original
rooms largely survive. Another fireplace, reset from the E
block survives, of variegated grey marble, simple pilasters
and stepped architrave of Ionic style.

Listing NGR: TL5383238719

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26275926

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
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  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
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  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)