Mid 19th century malt kiln now house, 'Church Street Malt Kiln', Church Street (EHER 15038)

A brick-built malt kiln with slate covered roof, now converted to a house. It was built in the mid 19th century, despite the maltings at this site dating from the 17th century (see EHER 15148).

1996. Field survey. Only the converted stock brick-built kiln survives on this otherwise cleared site. The kiln is square in plan with a tapering slate covered pyramidal roof. The building has been converted to a dwelling, modern casements have been inserted and extensions added to the east and south. The kiln was probably erected in the mid-19th century. Archaeological potential: Slight; few internal features are expected to survive and the rest of the site has been cleared. Site significance: Of local importance only; several kilns of this form survive in Essex together with their attendant growing floors. <1> 2001-2002. Field survey. Although some of the structures on this site date from the seventeenth century - Maltings Cottage (EHER 25351) and the former tap house, now known as ‘Old Maltings’ (EHER 15148) - the brewery was not built until the mid to late 19th century. In 1874 John Thomas Pilgrim was operating as a maltster and brewer and did so until his death in 1899. The business was then run by his executors and then his family, trading as E. and H. Pilgrim, until 1910. It was sold in 1913 to Dale and Co., the Cambridge brewers. When the brewery closed the building was used as a malthouse (assessed as part of the Essex County Council Malthouse Survey, see above) and then an umbrella factory. The site, therefore, consists of the former brewery / malthouse, tap house and Maltings Cottage. All that remains of the brewery / malthouse is the yellow brick kiln which has a slate, pyramidal roof. It has been converted to a dwelling and has modern windows inserted and extensions to the east and south. <2>