Birdshill

Details

GREAT BEALINGS SECKFORD HALL ROAD
TM 24 NW
4/74 Birdshill
G.V. II

House. Probably C14 with C18 and C20 additions. Timber framed with
colourwashed render and a plain tile roof. Single storey and two storeys.
Small hall house with an C18 two-storey extension. Road front: of two
dates, that at far right, being the C14 hall, slightly recessed. To left
is the C18 addition. Projecting plinth common to whole of the front. To
the C14 portion are two C20 sash windows of 4x5 panes with arched heads and
the roof here has a ridge stack at left, largely rebuilt in C20 bricks. To
left of this the C18 part also has C20 fenestration. The bay at right is
slightly recessed and has 3-light casement windows to the ground and first
floors. To left of this are, at far left a 4-light casement, at centre a
3-light casement and at right a single-light window. At first floor level
are two 3-light casement windows at either side of a central single-light
casement. To the right hand gable end of the C15 portion the lower walling
which is all of C20 date projects slightly and the gable has a window with
basket arch and pargetted foliate decoration to either side. Left hand
side: projecting single-storey gabled wing at right with a single-light
window with hood mould and label stops. Above this is a gable end which
has exposed C18 timber framing. Projecting at left is a C20 service wing.
Rear: C20 wing projecting at right with lean-to to the gable end. To left
of this is recessed walling with two 2-light ground floor casement windows
and two 2-light first floor casement windows and at left of this is the
older C14 portion which has at right a projecting C20 single-storey gabled
wing with a 2-light window with fleur-de-lys above. At left of this is a
first floor window of 2 lights and to left again two ground floor windows
of 2 lights each, all of C20 date, as are all the windows on this face.

Interior: The hall has at its south end an added half-bay with hipped roof
of C16 date having purlins and arched braces. The earlier, C14 roof is of
1 1/2 bays and has a central cambered tie beam supported on wall posts which
have been cut back and further wall posts and arched braces which are
planted timbers installed this century. The tie beam bears a crown post
which has a broach-stopped base, is octagonal and rises to a collar plate
and has axial arched braces. The tie beam has a lengthy mortice hole to
the centre of its underside, probably indicating the extent of the earlier
arch braces which would have formed a pointed arch. Collar beams
connecting the common rafters. The wall plate has an edge-halved scarf
joint with square, vertical butts. Soot-blackening to the timbers. The
present entrance hall has a floor of Roman tiles laid in Herringbone patern
and brought in 1972 from West Mersea Hall. The first floor solar has a
heavy wall plate with edge-halved scarf joints with square vertical butts,
jowled corner timbers and close studded framing with channels for halved
angle braces. The C18 wing has some re-used timbers to both floors and
pine beams. The wall plate has face-halved scarf joints.


Listing NGR: TM2439348603

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

285438

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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