Early 19th century coach house, Hamilton Lodge, Parsons Hill (EHER 80437)

A brick-built seven-bay coach house in neo-classical style, probably built in the early 19th century at the time of the original house on the estate. The roof is covered in natural slate. Twentieth century alterations during the main house's use as a care home has provided a modern internal configuration of bedrooms and has eroded the historical arrangement of groom's accommodation and hay loft.

June 2022. Heritage assessment. The coach house is positioned to the NE of Hamilton Lodge and fronts onto a central yard that defines the space between the coach house and the house. The building is approximately seven bays wide and incorporates a series of arch-headed windows and doors within the principal SW elevation. The building was constructed of red brick, in a neo-classical style, whilst the roof covering is natural slate. The 1820 map of Great Bromley records a building at the NE extent of the courtyard which accords with the broad proportions and position of the coach house, suggesting this had been built by 1820, perhaps at the same time as the original house. The arrangement of the building suggests it was constructed for coaches and horses to be accommodated on the ground floor whilst stable hands and other associated staff would have used lodgings on the first floor. This arrangement is suggested in the sale particulars of 1845, which also detail the presence of ‘hay and corn chambers above’. The extensive alteration and extension of Hamilton Lodge had a pronounced effect on the coach house, which now incorporates a modern configuration of bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor, wholly eroding the historical arrangement of groom's accommodation and hay loft. <1>