Hatch Farmhouse (EHER 581)

A mid-16th century house with early 17th, 18th and 20th century additions and alterations; L-plan, of two storeys and timber-framed. Earthwork remains of an alleged moat; the rectangular ponds to the east of the house do not form a moated enclosure and are probably ornamental.

2-storied, timber-framed. Probably built in the 2nd half of 16th century. Faced with 18th century brickwork. <1> Formerly known as: The Red House. House. Mid-C16, early C17, C18 and C20. Timber-framed, part exposed, weatherboarded and rendered and brick, roof peg-tiled. L-plan. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attics. W front C18 red brick, Flemish bond with burnt headers, symmetrical 3 window range, central front door. All windows C20 copies of originals, sashes with glazing bars, 3x4 panes, plain reveals and voussoir heads, ground floor segmental and first floor flat. Door C19 framed and panelled, 6 panes and simple flat hood on console brackets. Hipped roof rises to central early C17 stack with ovolo and cavetto mouldings, 3 octagonal shafts to W rebuilt but with original moulded bases. S front is exactly the same style as W but 5 window range and 3 dormer windows, each with hipped, peg-tiled roofs and C20 casement windows with glazing bars, 4x4 panes. Central door C20 glazed with glazing bars, 3x5 panes. C17 stack (seen on W front) at W end, 3 stacks show to S, C18 stack on E end wall of range (burnt headers). N elevation has L-shaped projection at W end with exposed timber-framing of long vertical studs on first floor with 2 early C17 3-light, ovolo-moulded windows. Hipped roof rises to early C17 stack showing irregular clustering of stacks with the central octagonal shaft showing on the S front, elongated back to a single large rectangular shape. Shaft at E end of cluster on its own. E end of N elevation, first floor weatherboarded and rendered, two 4x3 C20 casement windows. Ground floor C20 rendered, brick lean-to with peg-tiled roof, 6 casement windows with glazing bars and a glazed door, glazing bars, 3x5 panes. INTERIOR: 2 timber-framed building phases. (1) Range running E-W, now 2 bays, originally continued to W, mid-C16, jowled storey posts and internal tension bracing. Ground floor ceiling binding joist with bar stopped chamfers, common joists step stopped. Large fireplace at E end with timber lintel, rebuilt but could have original core. Door, now painted, could be C17, first-floor diamond mullioned window (blocked). Phase (2) early C17, W end of earlier range cut back and symmetrical timber-framed block built across W end, facing W with central chimney-stack, 2 storey and attic, double jettied range projecting to W. N and S principal rooms to front and large transverse corridor, staircase well and landing at back. Stair rises to attic with moulded handrail, flat, shaped balusters and newel post with moulded cappings. Walls of stair well with plaster panelling (rectangular centres with four L-shaped corner figures) and 2 plaster medallions, one restored and modified, the other indistinct. Stair well lit by 2 mullioned windows with ovolo decoration on first floor at NE angle. Both W front ground floor rooms with dragon beams to W corners, principals with bar stopped chamfers, common joists step stopped. First floor rooms over are similar but with no decoration on joists, perhaps originally panelled and ceiled. N room with 3 light mullioned window, ovolo-moulded. In the house fragments of floor joist support clamps surviving as cornices and also carved boards probably from a frieze. Fireplaces of phase (2) Ground floor single and rebuilt in S room. First floor, 2 back to back, N room with 4 centre arch in rectangular frame, both frame and arch ovolo-moulded. Arch moulding finishes in cabochon and double run out chamfer stops. S room rebuilt 4 centre arch. Attic, 2 back to back fireplaces (N and S) with rebuilt timber lintels. 5 chimney shafts in all. 3 enriched doorways with elaborately moulded architraves with urn and trident moulding stops, situated on ground floor at angle of phase (1) and (2) (leading to corridor), on first floor leading to N room of front block, and another on first floor leading to W bay of phase (1). Also 5 light ovolo-moulded window inserted in E bay of first floor. Main entrance of phase (2) presumably on site of S front door, leading straight to corridor and stairs. On first floor is one important chamber and one more private chamber. Rear entrance door to corridor on ground floor at back and straight above, another plain doorway from the first floor landing leading outside. - Exterior stairway? Fireplace on ground floor at E end of phase (1) block, no doubt used as a kitchen. Phase (3) C18. Cutting back of double jettied front and rebuilding of W and S front in brick with sash windows. Attic roofs re built with dormer windows, now butt side purlin type but considerably re-arranged and with fragments of early C17 house framing reused. E end kitchen stack refaced using burnt headers. Phase (4) C20 refurbishment and addition of rear out-shuts and considerable accurate replacement of earlier woodwork. (RCHM: Central and SW Essex : Monument 4: 143). <2> Near a possible moated site (see EHER 580). Hatch Farm is a timber-framed house dating from the second half of the 16th century. It was originally L-shaped with a staircase in the north wing. At the junction of the L is part of a large original chimney-stack. In the 18th century the roof was rebuilt and the two sides of the house faced with red brick. Parts of a moat survive on the eastern and northern sides of the house and it is presumed the present building stands on the site of a medieval predecessor. <3>. NRHE data import: Hatch Farm at Kelvedon Hatch (TQ 56989898 sited from OS 6" 1961) is of 16th century date with some rebuilding in the 18th century. Grade 2. Parts of a moat exist to the north and east of the house. <1> <2> <5> 1975. Field Survey. Hatch Farm (now a private house) was extensively modernised in the 18th century and is not outstanding. Rectangular ponds to the east of the house do not form a moated enclosure and are probably ornamental. <6>