Description

STONDON MASSEY

TL50SE ONGAR ROAD
723-1/1/539 (West side)
13/05/75 Nos. 1-4 (consec) Giles Cottages
(Formerly Listed as:
BRENTWOOD
ONGAR ROAD, Stondon Massey
Giles Charity Almshouses)

II

Terrace of 4 cottages. C16, early C19, 1860, C20. Plaque on N
gable records `The gift of Henry Giles of Stondon Parish 1574,
enlarged and repaired 1860'. Red brick, Flemish bond with some
burnt headers, pantiled roof. Rectangular plan, principal
range with conjoining cross ranges at rear W side, all in
block form.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. E front contrived to be almost
symmetrical yet to provide appropriate windows and doors for
the inner units. Clasping giant pilasters with simple capitals
at N and S ends. All windows of elevation are C19 2-light
cast-iron casements with 6x4 panes in each light and Gothic
cusping and 2 centred arches to the top panes. Ground floor
windows are set in triangular arched brick window heads, 6
windows set in between 3 central porches of timber on brick
base piers with shaped barge boards and pendants in flat tiled
gables. Doors, heavy boarding with ornamental `C' strap hinges
and 4 upper lights. Doorheads triangular arched. Arrangement,
N-S, 2 windows, porch with door, window, porch with window,
window, porch with door, window. First floor, 5 windows with
flat heads set above those below except for the central one in
porch. Roof has three regularly spaced stacks, rectangular,
each with diagonally set shafts. The N and S end elevations
are almost identical with porches (as at front) for doors of
Nos 1 & 4 projecting from the gable ends and shaped barge
boards and triangular recess above doors with inscription at
N, blank at S. Rear extensions 2 storey, rear edge of main
range and W end of extension defined by pilasters. Extension,
ground floor, at S end, some C19 brickwork with burnt headers
but whole rear section reworked in C20. Door to W, as front
doors but porch heads supported on braces from wall. To E,
window on ground and first floors, C20 wooden casements with
leaded lights in triangular heads to imitate C19 ones. Rear W
elevation, 4 conjoined gabled bays, C20, doors and windows
made in approx style as C19 ones. Ground floor, 2 central
doors (no porches) triangular headed doorways, doors boarded,
4x4 paned leaded lights, Gothic arched tops. On each side one
casement window, 2-lights in triangular arched head, 6x4
leaded panes. All other windows are 4-light casements under
triangular heads. Ground floor, 2 in outer bays, first floor,
4 windows, one in each bay.
INTERIOR (1) Original principal framing of C16 survives at
rear with top wall plates level with lower part of first floor
front windows, rafter seating regularly spaced. (2) Walls
subsequently raised in timber to present height in primary
bracing with slender studs typical of early C19. (3) Walls
skimmed with brickwork and rear extensions, 1860. (4) C20
rebuilding of rear range. The early fireplaces are narrow with
high timber lintels designed for raised hearths. Lintels are
reused timber. Fireplaces probably of the early C19
improvement.

Listing NGR: TL5864600247

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26503812

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

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)