Details
SAFFRON WALDEN
TL5338 COMMON HILL
669-1/1/120 (West side)
28/11/51 No.3
The Priory
II*
House. Late C16, c1600 addition, C18 refurbishment and
refronting, C19 and C20 additions. Timber-framed, plastered,
red brick, peg tile and slate roofs. Plan essentially
rectangular of conjoined units irregular additions to rear. 2
storeys, attics and cellars.
Front E elevation: 3 principal units in red brick, peg-tiled
roofs, N-S, (1) 5 bay range has central early C17 style
concertina stacks (rebuilt) with prominent C18 timber porch
projecting in bay 4 from N, Tuscan columns and pediment, door
of 2 leaves each with 4 moulded panels. Above, pedimented
Venetian window, sashes with glazing bars, 2x4, 3x4 with upper
radial glazing, 2x4, modillioned broken pediment, modillions
continue along adjoining roof eaves. Ground floor windows have
gauged brick voussoirs. Both ground and first floor have 3
flush sash windows with glazing bars and moulded architraves.
First floor 4x4 panes (gap in front of stack), ground floor 2
similar and one with C19 horned sashes and margin glazing (gap
at N end). To S, unit (2) 3 bays, similar but taller roof and
slightly set back, early C17 concertina stack of small bricks
at S end. Doorway early C19, cornice hood, doorcase has flush
bead moulded panels, door has overlight and 4 panels, upper 2
glazed. 2 sash windows, one with gauged brick voussoirs,
horned sashes with margin lights, other segment headed with
similar sashes. First floor, 2 sash windows with moulded
architraves, 4x4 panes. To S, unit (3) one and a half storeys,
C19, of 2 bays, roof hipped at S end, one flat and one segment
headed window, sashes with margin lights. C20 dormer window
with flat roof, 3 casements with glazing bars, 6x4 panes.
Rear W elevation: units seen as front, rear addition to (1) in
red brick, to (2) timber-framed plastered and brick, all now
with C20 pargetting. (1) central stack has double gabled late
C16 stair tower in front. N-S, Timber-framed and plastered
with eaves cove, ground floor twin sash window 2x(3x4) panes.
2 storey slated lean-to with ground floor C20 door fully
glazed 3x5 panes, first floor casement window 4x2 panes. 2
storey lean-to in front of stair tower with 2x2 paned casement
windows on both floors. 3 bay slated 2 storey lean-to, roof
low pitch running from principal roof ridge, minor stack in
roof pitch, 2 first floor 2-light C19 casement windows, one
segment headed, 4x3 panes, one flat headed 4x2 panes. Ground
floor C19 2-light casement window 4x3 panes, C20 door upper
glazing 2x3 panes. Single storey slated lean-to with 2x3 paned
casement window and C19 boarded door on N face. To S, (2) High
roof slated with a C20 flat roofed dormer window of 3
casements 6x4 panes. 2 storey slated lean-to below 2 window
range, first floor two 2-light casement window 4x2 panes.
Ground floor, C20 bowed French window, fully glazed with side
lights 6x5 panes in all under peg-tiled lean-to roof.
Adjacent, C20 3-light casement window 6x4 panes. To S, (3),
ground floor peg-tiled lean-to with C20 3-light casement
window 6x3 panes, C20 door with 2-paned overlight, door of 4
panels, upper 2 glazed, 2 similar C20 casement windows 2x3
panes. 2 C20 flat roofed dormer windows, one 3-lights 6x4
panes and one 2-lights 4x4 panes.
N end elevation: (1) timber-framed and plastered with round
attic window with radial glazing bars. S end elevation: (3),
C19 ground floor sliding sash window 6x3 panes, attic flat
dormer window 4x4 panes.
INTERIOR: timber framing evident in N and central units (1 and
2). Heavier in N block built as a 2 celled, 2
storey-and-attic, lobby-entrance house with rear stair tower
and central brick stack. Ground floor 4 centred arched
chamfered brick fireplace has pink ruddle remaining on
brickwork. Also, attic timber lintelled fireplace. N end has
remnants of side purlin roof construction visible. Halved and
bridled scarf joint in front wall plate, binding joist with
lamb's tongue chamfer stop. Stair tower has lower balusters of
early C17 shaped board form and round newel post. Central unit
(2) built soon after, timber-framed, central unit added at S
with slight set back converting house to 3 celled system with
kitchen fireplace and heated chamber over. Later work includes
conversion of ground floor N end room in C18 with fielded
panelling and dado rail, also a bolection moulded door on
first floor. Cellars, N end has flint and brick walling with
brick floor. S cellar has some walling of thin early C17
bricks, also twin brick vaults.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Ratcliffe E: Essex:
London: 1965-: 336; Stacey HC: Saffron Walden in Old
Photographs: Saffron Walden: 1980-: PLATE 134).
Listing NGR: TL5396438562
