Description

MALDON

TL8407SE CHURCH WALK
574-1/6/18 (North side)
24/09/71 Vicarage of Church of All Saints

GV II*

Vicarage. 1449, early C16 and C17, restored 1902.
Timber-framed and rendered with some exposed framing and
gabled plain tiled roof. Complex plan form with main block of
hall with 2 cross-wings type.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys. The front of the west cross-wing has
carved barge-boards of 1902 with pomegranates and gable
framing exposed with arched down-braces from the crown post.
The tie beam has moulded soffit and an early C20 square oriel
has 3 large brackets and flat lead roof. The 3-light casement
window of this as other contemporary windows on front are of
hardwood with square fixed lights above transom with leaded
glazing. The exposed 1st-floor framing has double wall
bracing. The ground floor is jettied with original brackets
and square oriel of 4 lights as above. Rendered and truncated
old stack on west flank.
The 2-storey hall block has exposed framing with 2 major wall
posts framing a probable window opening. The 1st floor has one
1902 window of 2 lights and similar 3-light window linked by a
2-light ovolo-mullioned leaded window with wrought-iron
subsidiary mullions. Also one similar window now as
cross-mullioned. The ground floor has an ovolo-mullioned
2-light window, either side of a 3-light casement of 1902.
Gabled projecting porch of 1902 with ornamental barge-boards
with grape pattern and front posts with attached shafts with
moulded bases and capitals. Recessed arched door head with
carved and dated (1902) spandrels and door of multi-studded
battens with rectangular fanlight over.
The east gable has moulded and carved barge-boards of 1902
with grape pattern and of 45 degree pitch. The gable framing
is exposed with ogee-curved down-braces to crown post. The
exposed tie beam has a moulded soffit. 1st floor has exposed
frame and single wall braces to corner posts and 3-light 1902
flush casement as others. The jetty is exposed but with modern
fascia over framed and moulded jetty bressumer. One jetty
bracket of mid-C17 character remains. Ground floor has square
4-light oriel as others and 2-light c1600 ovolo-mullioned
window with leaded glazing.
The eastern cross-wing has 2 late, 2-storeyed extensions on
its east flank. These have parallel plain tile, gabled roofs,
at right-angles to the cross-wing ridge. The southernmost of

these has painted decorative tiling and a plain 2-light
casement on its south wall at 1st-floor level. Other walls are
rendered and 12-pane sash window at 1st floor on east
elevation. Larger extension behind projects further and has
exposed brick and pantile-roofed lean-to extension on its east
wall. The ground floor has 16-pane sash windows and C20
casement over. T-shaped stack in valley between extensions.
The rear of the west wing is hipped with a gablet and there is
a gabled stair tower adjoining.
INTERIOR: the west cross-wing is a high quality, 2-bay
structure with unjowled posts and with a single chamber on
each floor. Floor joists with centre tenons and soffit
shoulders. The ground floor front wall shows evidence for
further double wall bracing and a square oriel window.
Fireplaces to west flank, that to the upper floor having a
stone late medieval surround. It is suggested that the
original stack position was in the rear bay of this flank
where there is a substantial gap in the framing and a probable
window opening adjoining. The rear wall of this structure has
vertically aligned door openings on each floor, that to the
ground floor with an arched head. Presumably one or both of
these gave access to a stair but this area was altered in the
late C17 (painted date on wall) to provide an additional rear
bay. The east wall has elaborate curved wall bracing exposed
within the later hall. A crown-post roof substantially
survives of cross-quadrate form over the central tie beams.
The inside face of the east wall has traces of wall painting
of vertical red and white stripes and the sacred monogram IHC
in white on a red stripe with foliage ornament. Clover leaf
motifs, white on the red stripes and black on the white
stripes represent The Holy Trinity.
The east cross-wing is of 3 bays with originally a single bay
room on each floor in the front, and larger 2-bay chamber to
the rear. A staircase in the front bay, gave access to the 1st
floor, perhaps via a door in the front elevation. The general
arrangement is that of a service wing with evidence for a pair
of service doors into the hall to the west. The front
ground-floor wall suggests a square, off-centre oriel and the
jetty bressumer is fully framed. The roof has simple crown
posts with thin longitudinal braces and a collar is continued
to form a collar purlin over the hall. General construction
suggests an early to mid-C16 date although there are some
contradictory features. The east wall of the central bay has a
contemporary stone fireplace, on the ground floor with side
arched head and attached shafts.
The present hall consists of 2 superimposed chambers, the wall
posts arranged to carry 2 tie beams to define a narrow central
bay. This may be contemporary with the east cross-wing, but

the lambs-tongue stopped chamfers and general construction
suggests a late C16 date. To the rear of the hall is a late
C18 staircase with shaped tread ends and stick balusters. At
its head, a short length of similar handrail acts as a kind of
gallery. The entrance passage to the main block and elsewhere
inside are areas of C17 panelling.
HISTORY: it seems probable that the west cross-wing represents
a chantry priesthouse of c1449 provided under the Will of Sir
Robert D'Arcy of Maldon (1385-1448). Daily mass was to be
celebrated at the altar of The Holy Trinity of All Saints
Church, explaining the subject matter the basis of the
surviving wall paintings. It has been suggested that this
cross-wing represents the complete house but the elaborate
bracing of the east flank, together with its unweathered state
could suggest a parlour/solar to a contemporary or
pre-existing open hall. However, some Essex priests' houses
were certainly of a 3-bay cross-wing format.
(RCHME: Essex Central and South-west: London: 1921-: 173:4;
Journal of the Society for Medieval Archaeology: XIX: London:
1975-: 213-19; Wadhams: 1975-).

Listing NGR: TL8496407114

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532289

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)