Early 19th century manor house and site of early medieval manor, Down Hall, High Street (EHER 45957)

An early medieval manor was recorded at this location in Domesday book, and the ownership of the estate is well-recorded throughout the medieval period. The original Anglo-Saxon manor was superseded by a medieval manor and in 1580 the manor house was rebuilt. By 1827, the estate had increased to 546 acres in the North half of Bradwell parish. In the early 19th century, the Tudor house was demolished and replaced with the present building, and during the mid 19th century, there was large expenditure on garden features, including the construction of a glass conservatory, now in ruin (EHER 38587). During the Second World War, the house was commandeered for an RAF Non-Commissioned Officer's (NCO’s) mess. Trial trenching on the site in 2014 only recorded post-medieval pits and a ditch, probably associated with the extensive 19th century landscaping of the site. Summary from record 47427: One of the three Bradwell manors, this had a substantial estate with extensive and documented tree planting in the C18 and early C19.

The Domesday manor of Dona’ was held by Richard from Eudo the Steward in 1086 and reverted to the Crown when Eudo died in 1120. Boidin Ailet and Seiher le Chien were granted this land in 1174 and the manor subsequently became known as Down Hall. Seiher's portion was passed by gift to Henry de Tibetot, and Thomas ‘De Duna’ leased Boidins portion at some point before 1300. By 1306 the manor consisted of a capital messuage, 126 acres of land, 2 acres of meadow, 2 parts of a marsh and a windmill. Thomas de Duna’s daughter inherited the manor and married Edmund Battailes and at some point between 1306 and 1333 the manor of Down Hall became joined with the manor of Battails. A mill is recorded as being passed from Richard de la Downe along with land to Robert de Cheddeworth in 1337. By 1339 Edward de Downe held 1 messuage, a watermill, 100 acres of land, 4 acres of meadow, 2 acres of pasture, 40 acres of foreign marsh (beyond the sea wall) and 1 fleet (weir). The manor was passed down through the family until around 1504 when the estate is recorded as consisting of a sheep dairy called 'Thomelynyswyke in Bradwell' with 'land and marshes weirs and other appurtenancies…which contains and is 240 acres land meadow and marsh worth 100/- yearly, held of the Lady Elizabeth, Queen. A manor called Downe Hall, a windmill decayed and in ruins….a weir decayed and broken’. It included a messuage called Tanyes with 100 acres of land and included 1 wood, Hellcote Marsh, Shellmershe and 5 weirs old and broken. The manor was passed to John Rainesford and on to Thomas Christmas and family until 1580. A later house on the same site possibly replaced the medieval house. After 1580 the estate passed down through the Mildmay family. Sir Thomas Mildmay was the Sheriff around 1573. After 1612 the owners recorded do not appear to belong to the Mildmay family and so it must have been sold on. The manorial courts were held there from 1705. In 1753 the estate consisted of 270 acres. The fortunes of the estate forced the current owner, Mr. Sangster, to sell off the stock and contents of the house in 1822. T. T. Clarke bought the house at some point before 1844 and the new tenant proposed plans for the alteration and improvement of the house. In 1827 the estate seems to have increased to 546 acres in the North half of the parish. A detached conservatory was added in the 19th century (EHER 38587) and there was a large expenditure on garden features around 1850, including the addition of a pond to the grounds. The house was demolished in the early 19th century, however the conservatory survived and is a Grade II listed building. The present Down Hall was built in the 19th/early 20th century. There is a sale catalogue of 1937 for ‘the country house called Down Hall’. During the Second World War it was commandeered for an RAF Non-Commissioned Officer's (NCO’s) mess. The house is presently used as a care home. <1> One of the three Bradwell manors, this had a substantial estate with extensive and documented tree planting in the 18th century and early 19th century. Fine trees, a fish pond, a walled garden with glasshouse, a rock garden with cascades, a croquet/tennis lawn and an orchard survived into the 20th century. Surviving trees (2006) include two giant redwoods. There is also a Grade II listed conservatory of 19th century date (EHER38587), on the English Heritage 'at risk' register. The house is now a nursing home and the gardens and woodlands are very neglected. <2> January 2009. World War Two Defences in Maldon survey: desktop assessment. A requisitioned property for use by the personnel at Bradwell Bay Airfield (EHER 16047) during the Second World War. It is noted on an Air Ministry plan of Bradwell Bay Airfield and its Dispersed Sites, dated April 1945, which lists the requisitioned properties around the local area. <3> <4> January 2014. Trial trenching. Archaeological evaluation recorded three post-medieval/modern pits and a ditch, all of which were associated with the 19th century landscaping of the grounds of Down Hall. <3>