18th century timber-framed houses, Moll Butchers Cottages, near Blackmore End (EHER 28251)

Moll Butcher's Cottages lies in an isolated position to the south-west of the small Essex village of Blackmore End. It is likely to have been constructed as a pair of cottages in the 18th century and is depicted as such in the historic Ordnance Survey map of 1876. The single storey cottages with attics comprised four bays with a central stack and were timber-framed and plastered with thatched roofs. The cottage was listed in May 1980 as a single dwelling, after which it is said that the building was renovated with the assistance of Council grants following a period of dereliction. A small extension was erected to the rear and the roof, dormers and some elements of the timber-frame were replaced. The interior was refurbished. In March 1986, the list description was amended to take into account the more significant alterations to the building. The cottage was damaged by fire in 2010 resulting in the loss of the roof above wall plate level and some damage to the historic fabric although the brick chimney remains.

NRHE data transfer: August 2010. Listing assessment. Moll Butcher's Cottage lies in an isolated position to the south- west of the small Essex village of Blackmore End. It is likely to have been constructed as a pair of cottages in the 18th Century and is depicted as such in the historic Ordnance Survey map of 1876. The cottage was listed in May 1980 as a single dwelling, after which it is said that the building was renovated with the assistance of Council grants following a period of dereliction. A small extension was erected to the rear and the roof, dormers and some elements of the timber frame were replaced. The interior was refurbished. In March 1986, the list description was amended to take into account the more significant alterations to the building. The cottage was damaged by fire in 2010 resulting in the loss of the roof above wall plate level and some damage to the historic fabric although the brick chimney remains. Pair of cottages, now one house. 18th century, altered in 20th century. Timber-framed, plastered, roof thatched. Four bays facing south, with central stack. Single-storey lean-to extension to rear of right end, weatherboarded with slate roof, 1984. One storey with attics. Two-window range of horizontally sliding sashes of 12 lights, the upper ones in tiled swept dormers, 1984 reproductions of 19th Century originals. Two 20th century plain boarded doors. Rear windows the same as those at the front. Hardwood frame, primary straight bracing, accurately cut face-halved and bladed scarfs and dovetail tying joints. Chamfered axial beams, plain joists of vertical section, original floorboards throughout. Rear wall weatherboarded inside plaster. Roof rebuilt in softwood and thatched 1984. With the exception of the loss of the roof, the above exterior description is generally accurate. A thorough interior inspection of the timber frame reveals that the sole plate and the studs to the west cross frame and the sole plate and studs to the east gable end below the midrail have been replaced, although some straight bracing remains in situ at the east gable end. The sole plate and studs of the western third of the front wall plate have also been replaced with softwood beneath the midrail. However the rest of the front wall, and most of the rear wall frame, is intact and includes primary straight bracing. Most of the wall posts remain, as does the floor frame and carefully jointed and pegged wall plate and end tie beams. Part of an arched brace survives at the upper level of the front wall frame. Some of the timbers in the north-east corner of the building have been fire damaged. There is a late 20th Century dog-leg stair in the north-west corner. Moll Butcher's Cottage is a vernacular building of 18th century origin, a date when most buildings are listed. Further guidance on the designation of this building type is found in the Selection Guide for Vernacular Houses, Domestic Buildings 1, which describes them as a conspicuous and much-loved component of the English landscape. They are regarded as essential ingredients of local distinctiveness, the best and most intact examples of which should be designated. Factors to be considered when assessing a building of this type include evidence of construction techniques, the original plan form and function, the quality of craftsmanship, the level of alteration and the survival of original fabric. The principal consideration in this case is whether the cottage retains sufficient historic fabric of special interest to remain on the statutory list. The recent fire resulted in the loss of the roof structure. However, the amended list description of 1984 noted that the roof, dormers, doors and windows were modern replacements, but the cottage was still judged to have special interest, thus the loss of the modern roof on its own does not unduly affect the special interest of the cottage. However, the recent internal inspection of the fully exposed timber frame has clarified what survives of the 18th century building. Although some elements of the frame remain, such as the wall-plate, two end tie beams, most of the floor frame and rear wall frame, much has been lost by attrition. The entire west gable end apart from the tie beam, most of the east gable end frame and a third of the front wall frame have been replaced with low-grade softwood timber of 20th century date. The plan-form of the cottage is no longer legible and there are no interior cross-frames or features of interest surviving. When considered as a building in its entirety, all that remains of the 18th century cottage is approximately two-thirds of its external walling and its chimney stack. Such an extensive and accumulative loss of the 18th century fabric and form has compromised the special interest of Moll Butcher's Cottage and it no longer satisfies the criteria for listing buildings of this date and type. Moll Butcher's Cottage no longer has special architectural and historic interest and should be removed from the statutory list. <1>