The Old Swan House
THE OLD SWAN HOUSE, 14, KING'S HEAD STREET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1281210
- Date first listed:
- 25-Sept-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Swan House
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD SWAN HOUSE, 14, KING'S HEAD STREET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2006-04-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/14964/16
- Rights:
- © Mr Wilfred N. Winder. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II*
- List Entry Number:
- 1281210
- Date first listed:
- 25-Sept-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Old Swan House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OLD SWAN HOUSE, 14, KING'S HEAD STREET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE OLD SWAN HOUSE, 14, KING'S HEAD STREET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Essex
- District:
- Tendring (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Harwich
- National Grid Reference:
- TM2597332728
Details
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: TM2597332728
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 366527
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
An Inventory of Essex North East, (1922), 136
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 28-Jun-2026 at 23:31:59.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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