Description

BRENTWOOD

TQ69SW BILLERICAY ROAD, Herongate 723-1/9/166 (South side) 08/04/75 Nos.135, 137 AND 139 Dower House

II

House. Early C17, extended c1700 and in C20. Partly timber-framed, walls of red and blue brick in Flemish bond, roofed with handmade and machine-made red clay tiles. Long main range facing NW of which the left bay is early C17 and timber-framed, with an axial internal stack at the left end. The remainder is c1700, with an axial stack. Early C18 one-bay wing in front of original bay. C20 small single-storey lean-to extension to rear, to right of centre. The main range is of 2 storeys and attics; the front wing comprises a half-cellar, one storey and attic. The front elevation of the main range is of red brick, with two C19 casements on the ground floor and 3 on the first floor, irregularly arranged. Band of 3 courses at first-floor height. Parapet gables, with kneelers in rear pitch only. The front pitch of the roof is clad with handmade tiles, the rear pitch with machine-made tiles. The left front wing is of red stretchers and blue headers in a regular pattern; it has in the front elevation one similar casement, and one more in a gabled dormer in the hipped roof. Blocked cellar window in a brick arch in the right return. The right gable end of the main range has a plain boarded door, no apertures at ground or first floor; C20 casement in gable; 7 old wrought-iron ties of S and X forms. The left elevation has five C19 casements of various sizes and a door. The rear elevation of the earliest bay is of red brick, the remainder of red stretchers and blue headers, forming a regular pattern; three C19 casements on the ground floor and 6 on the first floor. Similar band at first-floor level. Cement pointing. The external walls are approx 0.36m thick, plastered internally; this thickness may imply the presence of timber framing in addition to brick cladding. INTERIOR: the original timber structure is visible only in the front wall of the left bay of the main range, where it is enclosed by the front wing. It is of oak, the post chamfered with lamb's tongue stops, heavy studding and primary straight bracing; the roof of this bay is of butt-purlin construction, the purlins in line with a short arched collar, all of high quality. Large wood-burning hearth with 0.33m jambs, and chamfered mantel beam with lamb's tongue stops. The floor structure is C18, comprising an unchamfered transverse beam supported on a block on the girt at the front, and plain joists of vertical section, butt-cogged to the beam. Axial and transverse chamfered beams with lamb's tongue stops above the first floor. The remainder of the main range has an unchamfered transverse beam over each ground-floor room, with a joggled butt-purlin roof. In the front wall of the ground-floor room at the right end is a deep splayed recess, probably a blocked window. An C18 pine fire surround and an C18 pine closet door on the first floor have been seriously damaged by sand-blasting; the latter has original butterfly hinges. Most internal doors are 6-panel. The middle stack has a large wood-burning hearth facing to left, pointed with cement mortar, and a small C20 hearth to right. The front left wing has a chamfered axial beam with lamb's tongue stops, and distinctive diagonal ties at the front angles. The complete series of C19 casements makes an important contribution to the character of this building, meriting careful conservation.

Listing NGR: TQ6430591031

External Links

• Wikidata Q26491663

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Recommended Books

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)