Forge Cottage (EHER 38548)

A small, late 16th century timber framed hall house with a parlour at one end, extended in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It was probably built between 1568 and 1584 and was sold to the Congregational Church of Maldon in 1822. Consequently the cottage was extended in 1826 and 1846 to create two, and then three cottages in order to increase the chapel's income. The property was sold in 1923 to Frank Brand, blacksmith, who combined the tenements into one house again, from whom the present name derives.

May 1986. Grade II listed. A late 16th century house, extended in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. It is timber framed and mainly clad with 18th century red brick, and partly plastered and weatherboarded. The roof is covered with handmade red clay tiles. The building comprises three bays facing east, with an external chimney stack at the right end, now enclosed by an 18th century single-bay extension beyond. There is a 19th century single-storey service extension beyond and a 20th century lean-to extension to the rear of the right end. The original building consisted of an open 'hall' of two bays, with bay posts but without a central tiebeam, with an end chimney and a parlour bay to the left. The diamond mortices of an unglazed hall window have been reported in the rear wall of the 'high end' bay, but are not now visible. The floor of the parlour bay was inserted in the early 17th century and bares a good series of chisel-cut assembly marks. The main chimney stack is in two parts, of different dates, originally of small bricks and serving the hall only (the hearth much altered in the 20th century), with a second hearth facing to the right, and a chimney of larger bricks. The land is recorded as 'Sayers' in a tax roll of 1568, owner Webb, taxed at 3d, and in a survey of Walton's manor of 1584, then a copyhold farm of 15 acres, owner Edward Webb. The physical evidence indicates construction probably between these dates. The son of Edward Webb, of the same name, is recorded in a rental of 1611. In 1822 Sayers (then of only one acre) was sold to the Congregational Church of Maldon. The Trustees' Book records that the dwelling house was altered to two tenements in 1826, and to three tenements in 1846. The property was sold in 1923 to Frank Brand, blacksmith, who combined the tenements into one house again, from whom the present name derives. <1> See photos. <2> Forge Cottage is a small, late 16th century hall house with a parlour at one end, both rooms originally one and a half stories high and open to the ridge. The hall still retains its original chimney stack. In the early 17th century, both rooms had floors inserted to create first floor rooms, mostly within the roof space. Much of the timber framing is exposed internally and is of exceptionally good quality, retaining many original features. In the 19th century the rent from this cottage was used to endow a Congregational chapel which previously existed between the cottage and the road. Consequently the cottage was extended in 1826 and 1846 to create two, and then three cottages in order to increase the chapel's income. <3>