Description

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

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26621689

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

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)