Description

SAFFRON WALDEN

TL5338 HIGH STREET
669-1/1/203 (West side)
28/11/51 No.53
and attached walls
(Formerly Listed as:
HIGH STREET
No.53)

GV II*

Former house, now offices and surgery. Early C19.
Substantially of stuccoed brickwork but with some red and
gault brick with slate roofs. 3 storey main block with cellars
and 2 storey ancillary structures. Major central house with
lower wings to S and N, the latter with additional square
block to rear. Main block has hipped slate roof and 2 red
brick stacks over each flank.
Front to High Street has, on second floor, 5 double-hung sash
windows, each of 9 panes. First floor has 5 similar but taller
12 paned double-hung sashes. Ground floor has central Greek
Doric portico with fluted columns, plain wall pilasters, full
triglylph frieze and reeded cornice. Door has continuous
reeded architrave with semicircular top. Recessed front door
with 6 big decorative panels with inscribed Greek motifs.
Either side is a large semicircular bow projection with lead
roof and reeded cornice. Each has 2 separated 12 paned
double-hung sashes with semicircular blind arched heads. Rear
of main block has random window pattern which includes five 12
paned double-hung sashes. The ground floor has a projecting
doorcase (reused?) of plain Ionic columns, plain frieze and
margin glazed door. Large canted bay window with double-hung
sashes, those in flanks with central vertical glazing bars.
The flat roof has ball finials over corners.
Front elevation of the recessed S wing is of 2 storeys with
gabled slate link roof. The first floor has 4 thin pilaster
strips and formerly 2 blind window recesses, one now altered
with new opening. The ground floor has 2 segmental arches with
rubbed brick heads and projecting brick imposts. That to S is
a carriageway and the other is a blind recessed panel. The
frontage here has curved gault brick boundary wall and gates
with gault brick piers partially concealing C20 flat roofed
extension. Rear elevation is in 2 parts, including rear arch
to passageway. Over this is a C20 double-hung sash window with
panel below sill of reused medieval stonework. The boundary
wall to S is partly of uncoursed flint and incorporates 3
medieval stone heads, a cinquefoiled arch and arch spandrels
reset. The 2 storey N wing is recessed behind a tall red
Flemish bond wall with grey headers and curved corner to Abbey
Lane. Behind this and linking with wing are 2 lean-to slate
roofed single storey blocks of painted brick and with central
alley leading to door on to High Street. The N wing is gabled
with tall red brick stack on ridge line over N gable.
E front has one blind recess, one 12 paned double-hung sash
and a pair of linked 12 paned double-hung sash windows in
centre. On the W, garden side is a pyramid-roofed 2 storey
block of yellow gault bricks and a central 12 paned
double-hung sash on each floor of each exposed face. To the E
of this in a narrow link is a margin glazed door.
INTERIOR very complete with simple cornices, one with Greek
frett pattern and 2 marble fire surrounds. Folding internal
shutters in reveals. Door to main ground floor room of 6
raised and fielded panels, fluted pilasters. Stair case
against rear wall with wreathed handrail, shaped tread ends
and shaped thin balusters. Upper flight has column over vase
newels. Entrance hall of painted panelling.
(Stacey HC: Saffron Walden in Old Photographs: Saffron Walden:
1980-: FIG.135).

Listing NGR: TL5371938363

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534276

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]