4 and 6 High Street (EHER 38308)

A mid 16th century timber framed and rendered shop and office. The building is on a hall and cross-wing plan, across two storeys in the crosswing and one storey with attic in the main range. The rear wing has a long two-storey 19th century rear extension. There are now 20th century shop fronts on the ground floor.

September 1971. Grade II listed. A mid 16th century timber framed and rendered shop and office. The roofs are covered in plain tiles and asbestos sheeting over the wing. The building is on a hall and cross-wing plan, across two storeys in the crosswing and one storey with attic in the main range. The rear wing has a long two-storey 19th century rear extension. The cross-wing has the roof plates exposed and the front and is jettied with off-centre 19th century window. The hall range has one large and one small 19th century gabled dormer window, each with barge-boards, imitation framing and similar windows. There are 20th century shop fronts with large plate-glass areas. The building abuts Oakwood House (EHER 38307) to the west and No. 8 High Street (EHER 38310) to the east. Internally, part of the cross wing/hall partition survives. To the rear of the hall is a wide-arched cross-passage door head and adjoining post with rebate for a door at the side and mortice for spere. There is an inserted 17th century floor. The cross-wing is the former parlour/solar with the timber studwork substantially intact on the first floor. The hall was of usual two unequal bays. <1> See photos <2>. A mid 16th century, short two-bay hall and a parlour/solar crosswing, of typical Essex urban plan. The building retains reasonable levels of original fabric. The tension braces are internal and there is a mortise for a spere adjoining the rear door. The hall has an inserted floor. <3>