Site of 17th century Copt Hall, Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden (EHER 47284)

Demolished buildings known as Copt Hall, Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden.

Copt Hall is present on the 1777 Chapman and Andre map, Tithe map of 1840 and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Editions of the Ordnance Survey maps and was demolished by the time modern Ordnance Survey maps were printed. No visible remains exist above ground. The Essex Records Office holds deeds relating to Copt Hall dating from 1492 to 1768, which means the hall existed in the Medieval period. This document was not noted in the desk-based assessment, which stated the there was unlikely to be any medieval activity on the proposed development site. <1> 2010. Evaluation. An evaluation at Ashdon Road in October 2010 exposed extensive demolished remains of Copt Hall Farmhouse located within a landscape of post-medieval boundary ditches. No traces of an earlier, medieval farmstead were revealed. <2> - <4> 2013. Assessment. Early - mid 17th century – the first house and farmyard is constructed, this includes gardens, stables and barns. Late 17th - mid 18th century - The earliest map of the site dates to 1758, it shows two principal structures. The southernmost building is interpreted as a barn, based on plan-form comparisons with later maps. The presumed farmhouse is an L-shaped building, with the long range lying parallel to the road. There is a possible third, square building lying between it and the road but the map is creased at this point and it is not clear. Late 18th-early 19th century – The 1843 map shows that prior to that date an extension or outshot has been added to the east end of the barn and the farmhouse has been extended to the north. A new farm-building is depicted between the barn and the farmhouse. Mid – late 19th century - The 1871 and 1897 OS maps show considerable additions to the overall layout of the farmyard. The 17/18th century farmhouse has been replaced by a square building sited rather closer to the road. At the rear of this is a line of small outbuildings (possibly the privy or coalhouse? ). The pump is located behind these outbuildings. To the west of the house is a formal garden area, with an orchard beyond. The 17/18th century barn is still in existence and forms the southern boundary of the farmyard. A small yard or stock pen has been added to its rear. There is a new shed, on the western side of the farmyard, by 1897 this had been expanded so that it linked to the barn, it is open-fronted and may have been a cattle-byre or cart-shed. A new block of farm-buildings had also been constructed on the east side of the yard, given their proximity to the road and the farm-house they may include the stables. Beyond this is a small U-shaped group farm-buildings, depicted as open fronted structures facing onto a small yard, and usage as stock-sheds is postulated. Early 20th century - The 1921 map shows two new adjoining structures facing on to the road. The postulated stock-pens on the eastern edge of the farmyard have been replaced by a row of small buildings – possibly pig or poultry houses. Late 20th century – Copt Hall no longer exists. <5>