Site Event/Activity record ECC3772 - Survey of 37 North Hill, Colchester, 1986
Location
Location | 37 North Hill, Colchester |
---|---|
Grid reference | TL 99378 25447 (point) |
Map sheet | TL92NE |
County | ESSEX |
Non Parish Area | COLCHESTER, COLCHESTER, ESSEX |
Technique(s)
Organisation
Colchester Archaeological Group
Date
1986
Description
Structural survey of the 37 North Hill (The Castle Bookshop), during renovation work. The drawings and measurements were made by Richard Shackle, reported by A.B. Doncaster.<1> It is reported to be a 15th century jettied medieval crossing, probably originally a hall and two crosswings. The gable end of the building, facing south, has, on the upper floor, a five light mould window frame dated c.1590. This find shows that at this date the gable must have faced an open space.
The gable wall, covered with a light green wash, is pargetted on the outside, combining a pattern of figures and symbols including a plaque at the apex which reads H A? (the last letter undecipherable) 1666. It is probably the earliest example of pargetting extant in Essex, revealed only when the roof was stripped during the extensive repairs to the house. It is now, unfortunately, hidden by the north wall of No. 38 which was built so close against it that there is a gap of but 10" between the two houses. No. 37 also has a fine pair of service doors - long since blocked - in the north wall leading through to the original No. 36 (demolished in the 1930s).
No. 38 must have been put up sometime after 1666 and is timber framed but only survives half way up the first floor, and at one time was probably a complete house, but later a carriage way was driven through the ground floor now leading to Green's Yard.
Sources/Archives (1)
- <1> SCC72845 Article in serial: Doncaster, A.B.. 1986. An Example of Pargetting in 1666 on North Hill, Colchester. Probably the earliest extant in Essex.. Colchester Archaeological Group Bulletin Vol. 29, pp.13-14.
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
- MCC190 37 North Hill, Colchester (Building)
Record last edited
May 25 2016 9:34AM