Details
TL 61 NW GREAT CANFIELD BACON END
3/6 BACON END COTTAGES
GV II*
Aisled hall, circa 1300, altered in C16, C17, C19 and C20. Timber-framed,
plastered, roof thatched. Originally comprised a 2-bay open hall aligned N-S
with a third short entrance bay to the N, service bay to N of that, parlour/
solar bay to the S, with aisles on both sides. An end jetty was constructed
at the S (parlour/solar) end at an early date, possibly original, more
probably in the C14. In the C16 a timber-framed smoke hood was constructed
in the entrance bay, a floor inserted in the hall, and both aisles demolished,
with timber-framed infill below the arcade plates. The service end was
reconstructed as 2 full storeys with a gabled roof and unglazed window in the
N wall at first-floor level, probably indicating that the original service end
was of one or 1½ storeys with a gablet roof. In the C17 an axial brick
chimney stack was constructed in the entrance bay, replacing the timber-framed
hood and forming a lobby-entrance. In the early C19 the building was altered
to form 2 cottages. An axial chimney was built in the N bay, back to back
with the larger chimney existing; the roof at the S end was reconstructed,
the jetty underbuilt, and an external chimney stack at the S gable end added.
There was some renovation circa 1948 (Eland, p. 153), but the building remained
as 2 separate cottages until 1983, Single storey lean-to extension to the
rear, C20. 2 storeys. W elevation; 4 C20 casement windows and 2 C20 doors,
5 C20 casement windows on first floor. Some framing is exposed internally.
The arcade posts are jowled. The W arcade plate has a trait-de-Jupiter scarf.
Slightly curved arcade braces of square section are lap-jointed to the arcade
plates, in both cases on the E side (the outside of the E wall, the inside of
the W wall). In the short entrance bay one arcade brace is tenoned to the
other in the E wall; in the W wall one is missing, but evidence of similar
construction is visible. Original tiebeams, slightly cambered, are present on
both sides of the entrance bay, the one to the S displaying evidence of the former
smoke hood. The rafters of the hall are original and heavily smoke-blackened,
with later rafters at each end of the building. The ceiling is plastered to
the soffit of the collars, indicating an original roof of collar-rafter construction,
with a mainspan of 3.94 metres, aisles probably of 1.31 metres each. An
unglazed window with 2 diamond mullions in situ in the upper part of the N wall
is exposed internally. The earliest and largest hearth has been reduced
internally for a C20 store. The inserted floor in the hall is exposed from
below, consisting of a heavy transverse beam between the arcade posts S of the
entrance bay, an axial beam extending to the S, and joists of horizontal section,
all stop-chamfered. Elsewhere in the building all chamfers are C20 work;
the original timbers were unchamfered. In the service bay the joists are of
square section arranged longitudinally, probably C16. Disturbance of the floor
structure near the S end of the building indicates the removal of a stair or
internal chimney stack. In the S wall there is evidence of former unglazed
windows at both levels. Eland reported references to this building in court
rolls as Hodyus, although this seems to be a miswriting of Hodyns. He
did not realise the age or continuity of this building, and described this as
the third on the site during recorded times. It is probably associated with
Thomas de Hodyngg, who held land worth ¼ of a knight's fee of the Earl of Oxford
in 1360 (Eland, pp. 153-4 and Calendar of Inquisitions, X, p. 522).
Listing NGR: TL6043118952
