Crushes Farmhouse (EHER 27407)

House built circa 1500, altered in 17th, 19th and 20th centuries. Timber-framed with brick and rendered, roof of peg tiles.

House. C16, C17, C19, C20. Timber-framed and brick, rendered, peg-tiled roof. T-shaped original plan of principal range and cross-wing at N end with addition to W side increasing plan to larger square form. EXTERIOR: 2 storey with central, cross-sectioned, C17 chimney-stack, rebuilt at top. E front elevation, 3 window range 2 plus 1 in jettied end. Central doorway, window above and S end windows segment headed in C19 brick wall, replacing timber-framing. All windows C20, at N and S ends triple casements, at S, metal framed with rectangular leaded panes, central window similar, single casement. Door C20, fully glazed with glazing bars, 3x5 panes. Roof hipped including facade gable of cross-wing. Single jetty bracket survives at N end. C19 stack seen on N side, flanking cross-wing. Rear, W elevation, roof hipped, plain 3 window range, all with C20 metal casements with leaded panes. Deep central stair window of 4 lights, triple-light pair to S, similar on first floor to N, C20 boarded door below with 2 single side lights. C19 stack from roof apex towards S end. S elevation, irregular fenestration, windows as on W elevation, two 3-light casements on first floor. Ground floor, one similar and C20 flat roofed rectangular bay window of 6 lights with single side lights. Roof hipped with C19 stacks at E and W ends. E facade brick wall projects slightly at E end. N end elevation, flank wall of cross-wing, hipped roof, 2 stacks towards E and W ends, irregular fenestration of single 2-light ground floor window and one 2-light, one single light on first floor, all with leaded panes. C20 ground floor surgery addition not of special interest and not included in this listing. INTERIOR much rebuilt in C20 on ground floor. Large stack and fireplace, rebuilt but in appropriate C17 position i.e. backing on to the site of the cross passage (site of present front door) and abutting the cross-wing and set against the central truss of the once 2-bayed open hall. A rising brace to the original tie-beam remains, also a broad raking stud which implies the former presence of a timber hood within the house before the late C17 stack was constructed. The floor/ceiling joists of the divided hall have step-stopped chamfers, dating the division of the hall to before 1560. First floor of hall raised in post-medieval times, original top wall plates remain with step-stopped chamfers but roof and central tie-beam removed. Cross-wing of 2 bays, first floor original, W end has close studding with exterior tension bracing, remains of central window, shutter groove and diamond mortices for 3 mullions and sill mortices. Central cambered tie-beam and arched bracing from storey posts. The tie-beam never carried a crown post. A rough rectangular recess cut into upper face of tie-beam probably used as a money box. (RCHM: South East Essex : Hutton : Monument 4: 78). <1>. No new information from NRHE data transfer, but see <2>.