Nineteenth century stable at land rear of 5 West Street, Coggeshall (EHER 80188)

A mid-late nineteenth century stable with hayloft, heated tack room and first floor stablehand's lodging, built of brick to the ground floor and timber to the upper. Twentieth century repairs were made to the first floor, cladding, roof and chimney, the original stable fixtures removed and an extended ground floor porch added to convert the structure into a vehicle garage. Modern renovations have prepared the former hayloft for habitation.

August 2021. Heritage assessment. A mid to late nineteenth century stable with hayloft and two bays, built of brick to the ground floor and timber to the upper. The roof is clad with 20th century corrugated iron with grey plastic rainwater goods. The East elevation of the building is attached to 8 West Street, and the South elevation is obscured by an adjacent building in the grounds of 4 The Gravel. The stable is within the modern curtilage of 5 West Street, but separated at its rear. Access is via a small lane to the West of 5 West Street. On the ground floor, the Northernmost and smaller of the two bays was originally built as a heated tack room with a fireplace and chimney for a stove, whilst the larger bay was designed as horse stalls to house three horses. A 19th century brick floor drains centrally to a cast iron grate, but the stable fittings no longer remain. A modern MDF ladder provides access to the hayloft and replaces the original wall-mounted and space-saving ladder. On the first floor, the space above the tack room would have been a bedroom for the stablehand, and the remaining space used as a hayloft with loading door. The building likely fell out of use as stables in the early 20th century, after which it was probably used for storage and the ground floor converted into a car garage and workshop. Multiple alterations were made in the late 20th century, in part due to the building's poor state of repair: the entire upper wall frame, roof and exterior brickwork of the chimney was replaced, windows were put into the upper floor and the stable, the hayloft door was replaced, and new 1930s style doors were fitted on the ground floor in an extended frame to allow a modern car to be garaged. The original late 19th century windows and door remain in the North elevation of the tack room. In the late 20th century or early 21st century the former hayloft was renovated, the walls plaster-boarded out and the floor covered in flooring sheets. A modern internal door has been fitted. Planning permission has been sought to convert the building into a holiday let. <1>