Details
TQ 49 SW
4/21
28.6.54
CHIGWELL
HIGH ROAD
EAST SIDE
The Kings Head Inn
GV
II*
Inn, C17, extended in C19 and C20. Timber framed, partly weatherboarded, partly
exposed frame with plaster infill, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. Complex
plan, consisting originally of 4 parallel ranges aligned approx. NM-SE,
presenting gables to High Road, with later extensions to rear (SE), SW, C17,
and NE, early C20. 3 storeys with attics. elevation is jettied at both
storeys, weatherboarded on the ground floor, with exposed frame considerably
restored above. Ground floor (original building), 3 glazed doors, one of them
flanked by columns with fluted capitals and large stone balls. Canted bay of 4
double-hung sash windows.of 12 lights, early C18. One horizontally sliding sash
window of 4 lights, C19. 2 double-hung sash windows of 2 lights, late C19, all
with C20 diamond leading. Moulded and dentilled bressumer, C19. First floor, 2
oriels and 2 casement windows, C19 in C17 style, with C20 diamond leading. 2
sets of flat balusters with infill between and above. Band of carved strapwork
and jewel bosses on bressumer, C17, restored, and 5 carved scrolled brackets.
Second floor, one oriel and 3 casement windows, C19 in C17 style, all with C20
diamond leading. Blocked frieze windows across 3 of the 4 ranges. 3 large and
1 small gables, 2 with casement windows in C17 style. Chimney stack with
grouped diagonal shafts, cement rendered. To SW, small 2-storey building,
jettied, C17, probably a separate house originally, now incorporated, with one
double-hung sash window of 2 lights on ground floor, C19, with C20 diamond
leading, one double-hung sash window of 12 lights on first floor, early Cl9,
shallow pediment and false second storey with only a single-pitch roof to the
rear. Extension to NE is of 2 storeys with attics, early C20 in similar style
to main building, well executed. Photographs at NMR and Essex Record Office
show the street elevation fully plastered above ground floor level, frame
recorded as exposed by 1952. The restoration is of good quality and not
excessive. For example, on the second floor one oriel window with shallow
pediment has been reconstructed, but there is evidence of 3 other former oriels
on this floor.
The interior is similarly restored. The rear extension presents 3 gables with
infill framing between 2 of them, the framing exposed, of poorer quality with
much re-used timber, scattered fenestration all C20 in antiquarian styles. A
chimney stack of C17 red brickwork is visible between the 2 NE gables. RCHM
8.
Listing NGR: TQ4413693774
