Friends Meeting House (EHER 38251)

A Friends' meeting house built in 1821 from red brick in Flemish bond and with a hipped slate roof. It retains most of its historic layout (i.e. the division into two meeting rooms, one for men and one for women), as well as a number of Georgian benches. The meeting house is associated with Eric Baker, one of the founders of Amnesty International, who is buried at Maldon.

September 1971. Grade II listed. A Friends' meeting house built in 1821 from red brick in Flemish bond and with a hipped slate roof. The building is on a rectangular plan of four bays with a two-bay frontage to the road. It is a tall single-storey building and the roof has projecting eaves. There is a pedimented porch with double-leaf doors in a moulded architrave. Internally, the building comprises two principal rooms. There are half-glazed double doors to the outer room; a vertically-panelled dado with wall bench to the south; and doorways to the north giving access to an added kitchen. There is a central timber partition wall containing double-leaf half-glazed doors with margin glazing. The meeting room has a similar dado, which ramps up behind the elders' benches on the end wall; two tiers of high-backed benches with shaped seats on brackets, and a further bench against the wall; steps to upper tier with ramped handrail, stick balusters and column newels; wall benches to north and south and probably contemporary unfixed benches. The suspended ceilings in the two main rooms were added in the 1960s. Maldon Quaker Meeting House built in 1820-1821 is a good example of an early 19th century meeting house in a Classically-informed style. Its simple yet elegant design is typical of purpose-built Quaker meet ing houses of the period. Standing in the attached Quaker burial ground, it largely retains the original plan form and internal divisions that reflect Quaker traditions of worship and management. Surviving fixtures include the Elders’ stand in the main meeting room and other fittings that provide evidence for internal arrangements typical for earlier Quaker meeting houses. Notable Quaker and peace activist Eric Baker, who played a leading role in the formation of Amnesty International, is buried in the graveyard, further adding to the site’s interest. The available evidence makes it clear the building retains its special architectural and historical interest and therefore continues to meet the criteria for listing. <1> See photos <2>. 2014. Heritage assessment. The meeting house at Maldon has high heritage significance as an early nineteenth century building with original furnishings and a burial ground. Evidential value: The fabric of the meeting house and the burials on the site have the potential to yield evidence about the building's construction and past Quaker activity. The building and the site have medium evidential value. Historical value: The meeting house is a late Georgian building and one of the oldest buildings in Butt Lane. It retains most of its historic layout, as well as a number of Georgian benches. The meeting house is associated with Eric Baker, one of the founders of Amnesty International, who is buried at Maldon. The meeting house and burial ground have high historical value, both illustrative and associative. Aesthetic value: The meeting house is a good example of late Georgian architecture, although like most meeting houses, the building is fairly plain. The simple form of the original building has been slightly diminished by incremental extensions on either side. The setting of the well-maintained historic burial ground, adds to the aesthetic value of the building and site. Overall, the meeting house and burial ground have high aesthetic value. Communal value: The meeting house and site have high communal value as a building and burial ground developed for the Quakers. It is now also in community use, and a familiar landmark for local residents and visitors. The building and burial ground symbolise Quaker values, such as the testimony of simplicity. <3> The Friends' Meeting House was built in 1821, of red brick. It contains 19th century fixtures and fittings. <4> The meeting house is a late Georgian building and one of the oldest buildings in Butt Lane. It retains most of its historic layout (i.e. the division into two meeting rooms, one for men and one for women), as well as a number of Georgian benches. The meeting house is associated with Eric Baker, one of the founders of Amnesty International, who is buried at Maldon. The meeting house and burial ground have high historical value, both illustrative and associative. <5> See also <6>. NRHE data transfer: See also <7>. NRHE summary description: Friends meeting house. 1821. Red brick in Flemish bond with hipped slate roof. Rectangular plan of 4 bays with 2-bay front to road. 2-storey height, probably originally fully open, now floored over. Roof has projecting eaves. Pedimented porch with double-leaf doors in moulded architrave. Blind round-headed recesses to return walls with stone sills and finely gauged brick heads. Porch flanked by a pair of similar recesses and surmounted by oculus. Flank walls have tall 16-pane sashes with radial glazing to round heads. Low addition and various 20th century inserted windows to north wall.