3 to 12 The Causeway (EHER 26112)

Row of cottages built in 1883 by George Sherrin for Samuel Courtauld's workforce at the nearby textile mill.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Row of cottages. 1883 by George Sherrin for Samuel Courtauld's workforce at the nearby textile mill. Queen Anne style. Red brick in Flemish bond and moulded brickwork from the firm of James Brown in Leytonstone. Hipped tiled roof and 5 tall ribbed brick stacks. Nos 3-4 and 11-12 have one large curved gable decorated with panels of moulded bricks with daisy pattern, the others each have one smaller gable. Two storeys; 18 windows in all, 2 to each except numbers 3 and 12. <1> - <3> This group of workers' houses consists of a pair of houses (Nos 1 and 2) and a terrace of 10 (Nos 2-12), all two storey, plus next to No 12 what was a dining room for employees and is now the Royal British Legion Hall. The pair, designed by George Sherrin and built by S.C and Co., are in Queen Anne style, are of red brick construction in Flemish bond with decorative moulded bricks, under a hipped, plain tiled roof. The chimney is a central tall ribbed stack. There is a central large projecting curved gable with moulded brick decoration. The windows are of 16-pane sashes to the first floor and 20-pane sashes to the ground floor, all with moulded brick voussoirs with keystones and shutters. On either side are wide doorcases with flat weather hoods on brackets and half-glazed doors. There is a stringcourse of moulded bricks in splayed leaf design and also a plinth. The terrace is also by George Sherrin in Queen Anne style and basically constructed and styled similar to the pair. Nos 3 and 4 and 11 and 12 have one large curved gable decorated with panels of moulded bricks with daisy pattern, the others each having one smaller gable. The windows in the gables are cambered 12-pane sashes with brick keystones and shutters, other set back windows are 9-pane sashes with horns. Doorcases are cambered, have wide wooden hoods on brackets and are paired, with half-glazed doors. There is a stringcourse with stylised leaves and also a plinth. Attached to each doorcase is a low brick wall with wooden seats and original cast-iron gates. A plaque reveals that they were all built in 1883 for 'SC and Co'. They are parallel to the River Colne opposite the only remaining brick extension to the mill and form a group with that building and the original water mill. The external integrity of these dwellings appears largely intact although no doubt internally there have been many alterations. Internal inspection would be needed to describe the detail of the rooms and assess any that have been unaltered or at least have evidence of the original spatial configuration. An unusual development of company workers’ housing dating from the late 19th century and associated with the adjacent silk factory. Still in use as private residences and generally well maintained. Internal inspection and assessment is recommended should the opportunity arise. <4> <5> See also: <5>