Brownings Farmhouse

Details

TQ 49 SE CHIGWELL GRAVEL LANE 5/2 Brownings 28.6. 54 Farmhouse II

II House, late medieval and later, extended c.1800. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. Aligned approx. NE-SW, late medieval service crosswing to NE, central section largely rebuilt in C16, SW crosswing of undetermined date. Central chimney stack, external chimney stacks on NE and SW walls. Small lean-to extensions on NE and SW walls. To the NW of the SW crosswing a large extension, c.1800, with double gables to NW and SE, and NE chimney, the SW side forming the present entrance elevation. The SE elevation, towards Gravel Lane, exhibits 3 gable ends of which the middle is the largest, 2 storeys with attic, 2 storeys elsewhere. Each side wing has a late C19 bay of 2 storeys with tiled hipped roof and double-hung sash windows of 2-4-2 lights. The middle section has a casement window on each floor. The main door, at the S corner of the NW wing, is of 6 flush panels with rectangular light over, with fan and garland tracery of wood, and inside, a wrought iron grill with radiating spikes. This is set in a recessed porch with shallow hood on consoles. There is a large stone step with wrought iron shoescraper each side. All the windows of this wing are double-hung sash windows of 12 lights, c.1800, with many panes of crown glass. The SW lean-to extension has one C17 wrought iron casement, with later alterations in wood. The NE crosswing, the earliest part of the present building, is lower than the remainder, with a queen post roof, and edge-halved and bridled scarfs in the wallplates. The ground floor was originally divided into 2 service rooms, partition now removed, but the post rebated for twin service doors is visible. The medieval cross- entry at the NE end of the central section is still present, with an ancient door of exceptional width at the rear end, the front end blocked to form a cupboard. It is not clear how much of the structure of the medieval hall remains; this section has been rebuilt with clasped purlin roof on a NW-SE alignment, an unusual treatment. The floor has a plain-chamfered beam with step stops also aligned NW-SE, and exposed joists of square section, unchamfered, C16. Little dating evidence is visible in the SW wing, but it may be cl?. The NW wing has a plain stair, and on the first floor a fireplace of Adam-derived style and a corner cupboard, c.1800. A report in the possession of the owner by C. Johnson, Epping Rural District Council, 1970, records the documentary history of Brownings Farm with all its occupiers since 1468.

Listing NGR: TQ4630594318

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

118553

Legacy System:

LBS

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