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Essex Drawings
Blackmore – Priory Church of St. Lawrence 1988
The church was founded in about 1150AD for Augustinian canons and is mainly built in flint rubble. The timber tower, which dates from about 1400, is one of the most impressive in England. The priory was dissolved in 1525. Delicious cream teas are served monthly inside the stunning timber tower, which contains a five bell carillon, on Sunday afternoons.
Chigwell – King’s Head
Charles Dickens frequently visited Chigwell, which he described in a letter as "the greatest place in the world". He referred to the King’s Head as "a delicious old inn opposite the church" and used it as the model for The Maypole in Barnaby Rudge. Dickens famously wrote that is was ‘an old building, with more gable ends than a lazy man would care to count on a sunny day’. It dates from the 17th century, is of three storeys and has jettied upper floors.
Ye Olde King's Head, which was operated as a pub until 2011 was subsequently sold to local resident Lord Sugar's property company Amsprop which now leases the Grade 1 building to the Sheesh Turkish restaurant.
Great Sampford – The Black Bull
This former public house has been converted into a dwelling now known as Bull House. This residence has two floors, a slate roof and tall prominent, decorative chimneys. It is rendered and dates from the 19th century or earlier. Deeds from 1686 to 1984 are held at Essex Archives in Chelmsford. Comparing the current building with Frank’s sketch of the old pub reveals several significant changes.
Benskins, founded in 1693, was the pre-
Great Warley – St. Mary the Virgin
This magnificent Arts and Crafts Art Nouveau church was built between 1902-
East Horndon -
This picturesque brick church, which is such a familiar site on the north side of the A127, was made redundant in 1970. The church was rebuilt after 1442 and the west tower dates from the 17th century.
Manuden -
Pevsner, in his Buildings of England, Essex volume states that ‘Manuden has an especially pretty street with timber-
Ongar – A Corner of Old Ongar
This cluster of timber-
Orsett – St. Giles & All Saints, Church Road
The range of buildings to the left of the bare trees is on the north side of the High Road adjacent to the churchyard. The first, no.6 High Road, is a low 17th century timber frame house. Attached to the west is the 18th century red brick fronted numbers 8 and 10 High Road. Apparently the sliding sash windows are of particular note.
Passingford Bridge – Old Mill 2002
This grade II listed 18th century water mill, is timber framed, weather boarded; and roofed with handmade red clay tiles. It is aligned approximately north-
Stapleford Tawney – St. Mary’s Church 1999
This church is built of flint rubble with limestone dressings. The nave and chancel date to the 1200’s while the belfry is 15th or 16th century. Frank probably visited and sketched this church during the building of the parish room, designed by Tony Mitchell of Herbert & Partners, in 1998-
Stifford – 1938
Frank sketched this tranquil lane with its scattered thatched cottages at Stifford in 1938 on the eve of the Second World War. This scene, which has long since disappeared, was to the west-
Upminster – St. Lawrence Church and Rectory
The impressive rubble walled tower with its leaded and shingled spire dates from the 1200’s. The former H-