Harwich

43. HARWICH. (G.b.)

(O.S. 6 in. xxi. N.E.)

Harwich is a town and port, forming with Dovercourt a municipal borough. It stands on the extreme N.E. point of the Essex coast and is about 18 m. E.N.E. of Colchester. The principal monuments are (3), (20) and (25).

Ecclesiastical

(1). Parish Church of St. Nicholas was entirely rebuilt in 1821 but contains from the earlier building the following:—

Fittings—Brass: In chancel—on N. wall, to John Rychemond [1530] and Joanne and Christiane his wives. Font: octagonal bowl, each face with two panels with pointed heads, late 12th-century, stem and base modern. Monuments: In chancel— on S. wall: (1) of William Clarke, 1666, marble tablet with Corinthian side columns and entablature with bust and blank shield of arms. In churchyard—to Frances, daughter of Richard Gray, 1701, to Richard Gray, 1711, and to John and George Rolfe, 1709, table-tomb. Plate: includes paten of 1683.

Secular

(2). The Old Naval Yard, in the N. angle of the town, contains a few old fittings, including a bell inscribed Abbot 1666, C.R., and a crane and tread-wheel of oak, perhaps as early as 1700 but partly renewed.

Monuments (3–32).

The following monuments, unless otherwise described, are of the 17th century and of two storeys, timber-framed or weather-boarded; the roofs are covered with tiles or slates. Several of the buildings have original chimney-stacks and exposed ceiling-beams.

Condition—Good or fairly good, unless noted.

Church Street, N. E. side

(3). Three Cups Hotel, N.W. of the church, was built early in the 16th century on an L-shaped plan with the wings extending towards the S.E. and N.E. There is a 17th-century addition between the wings. Inside the building two rooms have original moulded ceiling-beams or joists. The staircase of c. 1700 has turned and twisted balusters, close string and moulded handrail. A room on the first floor has a late 16th-century plaster ceiling (Plate, p. 235) with oval wreaths, Tudor roses, fleurs-de-lis and conventional foliage.

(4). House and shop, 40 yards N.W. of (3), was built in the 15th century but has been much altered. The upper storey projects on the N.W. side with a moulded bressumer; here the timberframing has recently been exposed by demolitions. Inside the building the roof has an original king-post truss.

(5). House and shop, 60 yards N.W. of (4). The upper storey projects in front.

S.W. side

(6). House, two tenements, 80 yards N.W. of (5), was built late in the 16th century but has been refronted with brick. The back has three projecting gables. Inside the building are two original moulded ceiling-beams.

(7). House, two tenements, S.E. of (6), was built early in the 16th century but has an 18th-century brick front. Inside the building is an original moulded ceiling-beam.

(8). House, two tenements and shops, 100 yards S.E. of (7), was built probably in the 15th century; the S.E. tenement was added or rebuilt in the 16th century. The front is entirely modern. Inside the building are some late 16th-century ceiling-beams and remains of the original roof construction.

(9). Duke's Head Inn, S.E. of (8), has an 18th-century front of brick. Inside the building is some original panelling. The cellars have rubble walls.

(10). House and shops, 20 yards S.E. of (9), was built c. 1698, the date on a wreathed plaster panel on the front. The double-gabled attics project in front.

(11). Forester's Arms Inn, 110 yards S.E. of (10), was built probably in the 15th century. The upper storey projects in front. Inside the building are remains of the original roof construction.

West Street, N. E. side

(12). House and shop, 40 yards S.W. of (11).

(13). House, two tenements, 15 yards N.W. of (12), is of two storeys with attics; the upper storey and the attics project in front and the lower overhang has an original dentilled fascia board. Inside the building is an original moulded ceiling-beam.

S.W. side

(14). House, two tenements, 40 yards W.N.W. of (13) has been rebuilt, except the back wing which has a projecting upper storey on the N.W. side. Inside the building are two original panelled doors.

(15). House, 70 yards N.W. of (14), was built probably in the 16th century and has a 17th-century wing at the back.

(16). House, on the N.E. side of George Street, 30 yards S. of (15).

King's Head Street, S.W. side

(17). House and shop, 150 yards N.W. of the church, was built possibly in the 16th century, but has been much altered.

(18). House and shop, N.W. of (17), is of three storeys and was built probably late in the 16th century. The front is of 18th-century brick. The upper storeys project at the end of the back wing.

(19). House, two tenements, 45 yards N.W. of (18), has a projecting upper storey in front and an added storey on part of the front, which also projects.

(20). House and shop, N.W. of (19), has inside the building some original moulded ceiling-beams and panelling. A room on the first floor has an original plaster ceiling decorated with roses and fleurs-de-lis and divided into six panels by moulded trabeations.

(21). House, three tenements, 40 yards N.W. of (20), has a projecting upper storey with two gables in front.

N.E. side

(22). House, 20 yards E. of (21), was built in the 15th century and has a 17th-century wing at the back. The upper storey formerly projected in front, but has been under-built. The front block has remains of the original roof construction.

(23). House, two tenements, 90 yards S.E. of (22). The upper storey projects in front and has three gables.

Condition—Bad.

(24). Royal Oak Inn, on N.W. side of Market Street, 10 yards N.E. of Church Street. The upper storey projects in front and has original shaped brackets. Inside the building are original moulded ceiling-beams.

(25). House, N. of (24), was built late in the 16th century. The upper storey projects on the N.E. side and has a moulded bressumer carved with two leopards and a cartouche with the initials E.C.; under one end is a carved bracket. The original doorway at the N.W. end has a four-centred head carved with the date 1588 flanked by two griffons; the door-post is carved with the figure of a man in Elizabethan costume. In the S.E. wall of the building is a similar doorway with a pelican and a figure of a woman holding a mirror and a shield charged with a fesse nebuly; below the figure are the letters OENS.

(26). House, two tenements, 10 yards N.E. of (23), was built probably late in the 16th century and has an original moulded ceiling-beam. N.E. of the house is a short piece of rubble walling possibly of 15th-century date.

(27). House, on S.E. side of Austin's Lane, 35 yards N.E. of (19), was built probably in the 16th century. The upper storey projects in front on curved brackets.

(28). House and shop, 30 yards N.E. of (27), has a projecting upper storey in front.

(29). Duke of Norfolk Inn, N.E. of (28), was built early in the 16th century but has a modern block on the N.E. side. The upper storey of the original block projects on the N.W. and N.E. sides. Inside the building is an original moulded ceiling-beam and an original window of three pointed lights and now blocked. Two rooms on the first floor are lined with 17th-century panelling. The cellar has in the E. wall a stone recess with a flat ogee head. There are two original fireplaces in the house, both with oak lintels.

Condition—Bad.

(30). House, standing back from King's Quay Street, 115 yards S.S.E. of (29).

(31). Globe Inn, 70 yards N.W. of (29). The upper storey projects on the N.E. and S.E. sides. Inside the building one room has an original plaster ceiling enriched with roses, foliage and fleurs-de-lis and divided into panels by moulded trabeations.

(32). House, 30 yards S.W. of (31), was built late in the 16th century. The upper storey projects on the S.W. side. The lower part of the N.E. wall is of stone rubble and may be mediaeval.

Condition—Bad.

Henny, see Great Henny and Little Henny.