Description

HARWICH

TM2532NE KING'S HEAD STREET
609-1/1/51 (South West side)
25/09/51 No.14
The Old Swan House

GV II*

House. C15, C16, and C17. Timber-framed and rendered with
gabled roof of clay plain tiles and lower part of Welsh slate.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attics with one large flat-roofed
dormer in centre of front. First floor has 3 double-hung sash
windows with small panes, 2 square and one narrower. Ground
floor has one similar square window, with small panes, a C20
hardwood front door and two C19 double-hung sash windows.
North-west of this is one small double-hung sash with small
panes and yard entrance with C20 wrought-iron gate. Between
storeys, extending over middle of facade is an exposed, convex
carved jetty bressumer with running trail of foliage and
central cartouche with initials 'W' and 'K' over 'F'.
Off-centre ridgeline stack and black painted plinth.
To the rear is a 2-storey extension with separate gabled plain
tile roof.
INTERIOR: 3-bay cross-wings at NW and SE extremities of site.
That to NW is probably mid C16 and displays evidence for
former service doors and staircase door in the rearmost of its
2 bays (arched heads survived until recently). Bridging joists
have stopped chamfers and blocked mortices for former lateral
partition. This cross-wing was formerly jettied to street.
The SE cross-wing is probably of the late C15 and retains, on
its flank, the former parlour door opening, now blocked. The
plaster over has late C15 wall painting of a seated male
figure with horn and taper and inscription:- 'Sor I ssegn ande
mak my mon, the sschryn ys here the bodys goon'. To the left,
a curious oval feature with black bands alternatively
interpreted as gaming board or cannon. The joists of this
cross-wing have stopped chamfers.
Between the cross-wings is a 2-storey timber-frame of the
early C17 with contemporary stack. This provided one large
chamber on each floor and a stack bay to the SE, the principal
timbers being quadrant moulded. A pair of spine beams (one now
a replica) are moulded with bold ogee profiles. On
ground-floor rear wall is an acanthus scroll corbel and a
frieze window of moulded mullions, part of a typical
tripartite group. First-floor chamber has contemporary plaster
ceiling with rose and fleurs-de-lys motifs on beam soffit.
Similar ceiling in ground floor of SE cross-wing.
Early C17 stack retains plastered arched fireplace, on first
floor, with sunk spandrels and chamfered jambs. At ground
level the stack has tunnel through with pointed vault to form
entrance passage. Rear extension of good quality mid C17
framing and side purlin roof with cambered collars. Between
front and rear ranges is a gallery-like structure with C18
balustrade with turned balusters. A C17 side purlin roof now
spans the full width of frontage including both cross-wings.
The cross-wing arrangement suggests an earlier open hall,
either set-back from the street or with an aisle on the
frontage.
(RCHME: Essex NE: London: 1922-: 136 (20)).

Listing NGR: TM2597232720

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17533023

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

• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)