Description

DODDINGHURST

TQ59NE CHURCH LANE
723-1/5/316 (North side)
Priest's House

GV II

House now church hall. Early C16, early C19. Timber-framed,
weatherboarded and plastered with peg-tiled roof. Large
rectangular room aligned NE with a small section partitioned
off at N end. Parallel block less door added to W in early
C19. Central entry passage and doorway between the two. Facade
at S end weatherboarded with 3 early C19 sliding sash windows,
one in W block and one in E, glazing bars, 4x3 panes, moulded
architraves and simple weathering hoods. Central door C20,
simple sunk panels.
INTERIOR: the E block was converted from a house in 1973 and
some of the framing is now exposed and some concealed. Much to
the S of the house was removed but the N bay is intact to a
considerable extent. It comprises a storeyed end, probably the
solar of a medieval house, with heavy studding in outer walls
and a partition frame. Also jowled storey posts, tie-beams and
a collar. Shutter grooves in both end tie-beams and collar
indicate originally one and a half storey construction and peg
holes for middle rails support this interpretation. Present
doorway through partition apparently on site of original
doorway from hall. Hall area much rebuilt and medieval
evidence removed or obscured. Wall plates though apparently
survive boxed in but central tie-beam exposed in situ with
underside mutilated but with evidence of a wall post and the
arched braces to the open truss given by redundant joints.
Service end of medieval building totally obscured by C19 work.
In roof area C19 replacement but central tie-beam has the
joint for a crown post and the hall/solar partition tie-beam
has a row of mortices for upper partition studding. Both
tie-beams are heavily sooted together with a further one
towards the S end which is only half the depth of the other 2.
It may have been a light upper beam for a spere or screen at
the hall low end. Dating evidence is lacking but several well
made chamfers with step stops survive. Date of medieval house
is before c1560, probably c1500. It is clear that the ground
level has risen at least 0.5m since the original build. Head
height is now insufficient for medieval window heights. The
Priest's House and the Church of All Saints (qv) form a group.
(RCHM: Central and SW Essex : Monument 8: 57).

Listing NGR: TQ5890498970

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26584817

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.

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