Former 18th century brick-built farmhouse at Crays Hall Farm, Billericay (EHER 80109)

A mid to late 18th century brick-built farmhouse with evidence of 19th century remodelling and which may have been built on the site of a smaller 17th century building of the same function.

April 2019. Heritage assessment. A mid to late 18th century brick-built former farmhouse with evidence of 19th and 20th century remodelling and which may have been built on the site of a smaller 17th century building of the same function. The farmhouse is orientated roughly E-W, with its principal elevation facing South and towards the farm buildings. This elevation comprises three main components: a central, brick built and gable-ended range, raised over two and a half storeys, which forms the main body of the house. It is flanked by a pair of single storey early 19th century side bays, both built with mono-pitch slate roofs which form a continuation, similar to a catslide, to the main roof and give the building its unusual appearance. The brickwork of the facade is a single uniform build comprised of large late 19th/early 20th century machine made bricks. Of particular note is a brick inscribed with the initials GW and the date of ‘1783’, just west of the entrance, which appears to have been re-set into the facade following its re-facing in the late 19th or early 20th century. All of the windows are modern uPVC replacements. Several accretions have been added in recent years, including a small brick and timber tin-roofed addition onto the Eastern bay extension, a larger, timber-framed ‘conservatory’ (also with tin roof) onto the Western bay extension, and a brick built porch with tiled roof on the façade. Internally, the ground floor is laid out over six individual rooms within the main house and two rooms within the side bays. The two rooms or parlours to the South front were, and still remain, the principal rooms, both originally heated by large open fireplaces built into their flank walls. The first floor comprises two principal bedrooms sited on the South side, both originally heated by fireplaces which have since been removed and blocked. Subdivision of the North side has subsequently created four rooms including one WC and one bathroom. The attic floor is sub-divided into four spaces, two main bedrooms and two smaller unlit rooms used as stores, all in-eaves. None of the attic rooms were heated and were likely servants’ accommodation. It is not clear whether the attic staircase was an original feature. No details are given of the basement. <1> October 2024. Update. The building was surveyed, along with the outbuilding, ahead of proposed demolition, and the farmhouse was demolished at some time between April 2019 and May 2020 when archaeological evaluation took place on the site. The outbuilding remains in situ in mapping and aerial imagery.