51-57 Church Lane, Bocking (EHER 80102)

These terraced cottages, examined as part of a Level 1 and 2 Historic Building Survey, are significant as they demonstrate an early style of vernacular building. These houses were built as workers' cottages, around 1800.

2021. Historic Building Survey. The from elevation, facing Church Street is covered in cream render obscuring any structural detail. When surveyed in 2021 the rear of the elevation had been partially demolished but enough remained to re-create the elevation. The rear was made from seemingly handmade red bricks with shallow frog. The roof was slate. The survey was able to record the cottages in a state not far removed form when they were originally built with most superficial later alterations having been removed. The two central cottages (Nos. 53 and 55) are larger than the others as they have rear rather than front staircases. They are utilitarian workers cottages probably built in the context of the local textile industry but with some finer touches, particularly the splays around the front windows and doors. Prior to the survey the cottages were thought to have dated to around 1840, however the use of documentary evidence in this survey shows that they were already in existence in 1815. This, together with the small paned sash windows without horns and 'H' hinges on the doors indicates a date closer to 1800. It is unlikely to be before this due to the presence of set-back sash windows which came into use in London after 1774 and would have taken at least 20 years to reach Bocking. <1>