Building survey by A. Derrick at 29 Stoneham Road, Coggeshall, 2014 - EEX60898

The survey documented the archaeological significance of the building. NRHE data transfer: The building has high heritage significance as a former Quaker meeting house built in 1878, on the site of an earlier meeting house, and in secular community use since 1965. Evidential value: Although the building is no longer in use as a meeting house, internal feature such as the stand for the elders' seating, and (to a lesser extent) its external design denote it historic use. The building has medium evidential value. Historical value: Quakers have been active in Coggeshall since the 1670s, and the present meeting house is the second on the site. Built in 1878 by a local architect, it is of high historical value. Aesthetic value: The meeting house has a simple chapel-like appearance, almost reminiscent of Victorian functional railway architecture. It occupies a prominent corner site and makes a positive contribution to the local conservation area. It is externally little altered, but internally has lost much of its meeting room character. It is of medium aesthetic value. Communal value: The building is now a public library and as such is of high communal value.