Sixteenth century timber framed public house, The King's Head, High Street (EHER 46138)

This building has been used as a public house since at least the late 17th century, and at the left-hand (Southern) end is a timber framed cross-wing dating from around 1500. The remainder of the building is mostly Victorian in date and constructed primarily of red brick. It suffered a fire in 2014 and has since been meticulously restored. It won the Maldon Conservation and Design Awards in 2017.

A public house, originally called 'The Three Conies'. <1> The building appears from the 1st edition OS map of 1881 as the King's Head. The form of this building is of a hall with two cross wings and it is thought that the outer appearance may well be hiding an earlier building. <2> This building has been used as a public house since at least the late 17th century, when it was known as ‘The Three Connys’. At the left-hand (Southern) end is a timber framed cross-wing dating from around 1500. The remainder of the building is mostly Victorian in date and constructed primarily of red brick. The cross-wing is of three bays and has a crown post roof structure and a front jetty. Study of the cross-wing following a fire in 2014 revealed several unusual features including areas of plank infill and evidence for a first-floor fixed bench. An early 17th century chimney stack and fireplaces survive on the Southern flank of the cross-wing. The building’s owner, Richard King, undertook a meticulous restoration of the medieval wing after the fire, which won the Maldon Conservation and Design Awards in 2017. Although much of the original structure was destroyed, the timber framed range at the King’s Head is a remarkably faithful and evocative restoration of a medieval cross-wing. Both the medieval and Victorian parts of the building display high quality materials, detailing and workmanship. The building is also of considerable communal value, as a long-serving village pub. <3>