Undergoing restoration in July 2009

Prior to restoration

Circa 1900

Undergoing restoration in July 2009

Undergoing restoration in July 2009

144 High Street Maldon was built in the reign of Henry VII for a wealthy merchant as his dwelling and business quarters. When originally built, the building featured a jettied front (the top half of the property on the cross wing was set further out from the lower section) and the original jettied beams can be seen from the flank wall.

The Rochford & South East Building Preservation Trust is currently restoring this property and has tried to retain as many of the original beams and timbers as possible.

This property is turning out to be a little gem which in the main has survived unmolested for some 500 years. Following the removal of much of the 20th century facade and poor repairs, the building revealed its historic fabric. The cross wings of the building we can push back to the 15h century, the crown posts identifying this period. Most of the original wattle and daub is still in situ being covered up by later metal lathe.

An original Tudor door has been discovered along with its mortise head, once again hidden behind a later addition and which retains much of its red ochre. The timber of this cross wing is close studded and without doubt the exterior of the building would have been exposed timbers with lime mortar infill panels which would have been lime washed. On the first floor level once again hidden behind a metal lathe the arched wind braces are still in situ.

The cross wing retains its original jowled corner posts on all four corner posts. The roof timbers on the cross wing are in the main entirely original although the roof has been re-tiled but has been retained with its original peg tiles.

Moving on to the main hall, this has been identified now as a 15th/16th century medieval Tudor hall which originally would have had an open fireplace in the centre of the building and a high table at the cross wing end. This building retains much of the original medieval hall up to its original wall plate level and sometime late in the 16th or 17th century another story was added off of the wall plate and roof structure. Roof timbers are the originals although raised to new level, also some of these timbers are blackened showing that an open fire was in place. At the same time a chimney stack was installed at the lower of the hall. This was uncovered on the ground floor when removing the 1960's paneling and revealed the most wonderful inglenook fireplace wherein was found the original timber seating still in situ and numerous hooks which would have been used for cooking pots and spits were also in situ.

On the first floor level there is a spine beam with a scarf joint with two different ages of timber and it is likely that the medieval hall had a gallery but once again, this will need further investigation.

The trust has many years expertise in historic buildings and experience has shown that with this type of building, more treasures will be found during the restoration process,

This building is one of the very few unmolested little treasures that occasionally come to light and has the making of being a treasure within the history of Maldon, however there is much work to be done as the side flank of the cross wing is in a dangerous condition and needing urgent repairs to avoid its collapse which will undoubtedly entail the supporting of the mid rail on the side elevation for removal of the metal lathe and cement render to expose the sole plate which undoubtedly will have failed. The introduction of a modest footing and brick plinth is required to accommodate a repaired or replaced sole plate as necessary. Equally, a number of the studs would have failed and will need replacement and/or spliced repairs. The corner posts at the rear of the elevation have completely failed and will require extensive structural works to stabilise.

As previously mentioned, both buildings were of a fairly high quality as shown by the close studding and the entire buildings would have had exposed timbers, wattle and daub infill panels, lime render and lime wash over the complete building. Undoubtedly and window that we uncover from the original building will have been mullioned probably without glazing as was the norm at this early stage and the Trust whenever possible would like to install mullioned windows, albeit now glazed, back into situ where appropriate.

Without doubt, the Trust has the expertise to restore this building in such a way as it would have looked in the 16th century, that is; exposed timbers, mullioned windows, lime render and lime wash. This building will set a standard of how such buildings can and should be restored.

The Trust always undertakes works that are most appropriate for the building, a view held by Prince Charles. The Trust can clearly demonstrate the format of the original windows by the scars left on the timber work and so would be able to recreate the windows originally in the building.

The conservation officers for Maldon hold a different opinion based upon recommended guidelines and wish the building to retain the much later (300 years) Georgian windows to be inserted into the Tudor timber framework.

In the Trust's opinion, this is totally unsuitable as this building is a little gem of a survivor and deserves to be an asset to the town and not psuedo.

Please register your opinion using the link opposite.

The Trust would like the opinion of members of the public on the most suitable windows on this newly uncovered gem of a 15/16th century Tudor property.

You can register your opinion here

Rochford & South East Building Preservation Trust Ltd
425 Sutton Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex
Telephone 01702 445587