45 Stortford Road (EHER 82861)

A former police station constructed in 1842 by Henry Hammond Hayward of Colchester, probably to architectural designs by Thomas Hopper. It was extended with a fire engine shed and additional accommodation in the mid- and late nineteenth century; and adapted as a community centre and altered around 2014.

February 2026. Grade II listed. A former police station constructed in 1842 by Henry Hammond Hayward of Colchester, probably to architectural designs by Thomas Hopper. It was extended with a fire engine shed and additional accommodation in the mid- and late nineteenth century; and adapted as a community centre and altered around 2014. Great Dunmow police station was the first purpose-built police station in Essex. It was constructed with a magistrates’ court at first floor level in which Petty Sessions were held for Dunmow Hundred on the first Monday of every month, and domestic accommodation for the Superintendent. A former fire engine shed was added to the north-west corner in the mid 19th century and appears on the 1875 Ordnance Survey (OS) map. The rear projection was extended to the east and west around 1860 and to the south-west by the time of the 1897 OS map; these mid and late 19th century extensions were probably designed by Henry Stock, who succeeded Hayward as County Surveyor. The 1875 OS map shows a detached building against the south wall of the rear yard; this was probably a stable and was demolished around 1970. Comparison with historic photographs and maps shows a chimneystack was removed from the rear slope of the main roof in the 20th century and boundary walls to the north and north-east were removed in the late 20th century. The building continued in use as a police station until 2008, after which it was adapted for use as a community centre and altered around 2014. <1>