1, 3, and 3A High Street (EHER 38306)

Three timber framed and rendered shops with two flats above, bearing probably the oldest timber frame in Maldon, dating from the mid 14th century. The building is on an 'L-shaped' plan, across two storeys and the main block consists of a mid 14th century house with three-bay, high-end cross-wing, two-bay low-end cross-wing and remnants of a narrow single-bay open hall. At the high end is a bench recess of unusual design, formed by an internal jetty in the centre bay. To rear of high end is a two storey 15th century block, jettied to the yard and open to the crosswing, which has since been underbuilt.

August 1971. Grade II* listed. Three timber framed and rendered shops with two flats above. The roof is covered with plain tile, gabled at the north-east end and half-hipped at the south-west end. The building is on an 'L-shaped' plan, across two storeys and with a gabled plain tile roofed block to rear (also timber framed). The front has a rendered timber parapet and four sash windows on the first floor, each with flush moulded surrounds, margin glazing and plain frieze and cornice over. The ground floor has three shop fronts: that to No.1 is recessed with 20th century small-paned bow window and adjoining door; No.3 has a flat-roofed canted bay window with plain glass; and No.3A has a plain 20th century shop front of two large panes. There are three plain 20th century entrance doors. The rear extension has an underbuilt jetty on the north-east face. The main block consists of a mid 14th century house with three-bay, high-end cross-wing, two-bay low-end cross-wing and remnants of a narrow single-bay open hall. The high-end wing has an internal jetty in the centre bay to form a bench recess. The front bay was partitioned off, presumably as a contemporary shop. The narrow low-end cross-wing had included a cross-passage with spered opening to the hall. The two halves of spere beam remain but one half now forms a partition. The roof plate of the hall survives, probably in situ, in the front wall with a large concave chamfer, suggesting that the jettied first floors were removed rather than underbuilt. The north-east end bay is a later, probably a 17th century extension. To the rear is a 20th century flat-roofed extension and a two-storey 15th century extension formerly jettied on the north-east side. This has a first floor supported on massive Samson posts with knee braces to bridging joists and spine beams. This floor was open-framed to the main range with former large arch braces to cambered tie beams. At this level there was one large and one small chamber. <1> See photos <2>. Probably the oldest timber frame in Maldon, dating from the mid 14th century. It includes two examples of splayed scarf joints with under-squinted abutments. The building is on a condensed plan of high and low end cross wings flanking a narrow hall. The surviving crown post at the high end has a jowled head, chamfering and thick braces. The bridging joist has a jowled end, a feature of a limited time span in Essex. To rear of high end is a two storey 15th century block, jettied to the yard and open to the crosswing. The first floor has two unequal chambers supported by a samson post. At the high end is a bench recess of unusual design. The low end has an overshot cross passage. <3>