18th century outbuilding at Red Lion Public House, Manningtree (EHER 80360)

The outbuilding was likely constructed at the same time as the Red Lion Public House in the late 18th century.

September 2019. Level 2 building survey. The outbuilding was likely constructed at the same time as the Red Lion Public House in the late 18th century. It was partially demolished in the 21st century, making dating quite complicated. Based on the surviving and recovered architectural evidence, the building seems to have been a brick-built, single-storey structure, originally constructed as an outbuilding to the rear of the Red Lion before being incorporated into the pub building in the early 20th century. The timber-framed elements of the structure, including the roof, all appear to have been constructed of machine-cut timber. While the roof and the brick flooring could both have been redone or subsequently added to the building, the brick from the wall of the structure is presumably part of the original fabric (unless, of course, it was reused from an earlier structure). The narrow frog on its upper surface dates it to the late 18th century or after, frogs not appearing in moulded bricks before that date. Although only a very minimal amount of evidence survives, there is nothing that precludes the possibility that the partially demolished outbuilding was constructed at the same time as the Red Lion pub and is late 18th century in date. Drawing any other conclusions, such as determining the building’s use or evolving function, is very difficult. The recent use of the building appears to have been as a storeroom, with the surviving northern half still being used as such. The suggestion that the demolished section was in use as a stable can neither be confirmed nor denied, although given its single-storey nature, long façade and its appearance on early mapping as an outbuilding to the rear of the pub, it certainly seems a possibility. <1>