Building control in Witham

Building regulations were already operative in early medieval times. One history describes the first of them as dating from 1189 !
(http://www.buildinghistory.org/regulations.shtml)

For a long time they were mostly used in cities. But during the mid-19th century, legislation made them more widespread. In particular, Boards of Health were established in 1848, with some powers to supervise building. As time went on, their functions were added to.

The first 275 surviving Witham plans were stuck into a large book, now kept in the Essex Record Office (ERO D/UWi/Pb1).  The first of them dates from 1855 and shows the three Blackett’s Cottages, at 65-69 Braintree Road, a rather quaint group which still stands. Russell Blackett was a “brick dealer, timber, coal and manure merchant”.

Above. Blackett’s cottages, 69-73 Braintree Road, built in 1855. The first Witham buildings to be granted consent under the new regulations introduced in that year (Photo taken by me in 2023)

Russell Blackett wrote some interesting comments on his plans:

The drains will  be constructed with earthen pipes leading to a covered cesspool. The privies will be constructed upon the old Shoot and Cesspool principle, but the drains, I hereby undertake to convey by proper means, to a Common Sewer, should one at any time be laid sufficiently near by the Local Booard of Health, and when the Board shall carry out Water works in the neighbourhood of the houses, to convert the privies into Water Closets”.

A privy was a small toilet not connected to water or main drainage. Methods for disposal of the waste varied. Many privies were outdoors, but Mr Blackett’s were indoors. Two were in an enclosure in the corner of the kitchen, and the third in a lobby off the kitchen. This was still  fourteen years before Witham’s water and drainage system was completed, so it must have been difficult for the Board members to ensure that new buildings were safe.

The last plan in the book is from the First World War, when hundreds of soldiers were billetted in Witham for training. It was dated 1914, and showed W H Smith’s “bookstall and teahouse”. which looked like a big rectangular box. It was at the Rifle Ranges, near the end of Powershall End. Unfortunately we are not told its exact location.

The Witham Board of Health continued to deal with all the applications until 1894 when the work was taken over by their successors, the Witham Urban District Council.

After 1914, the plans survive individually, with their numbers continuing from the ones in the old book, and with the reference ERO Acc A7280 (5B51D/3) My notes are continuous up to plan 323 in 1921 but after that, they are selective.

The plans are all at the Essex Record Office. I was not able to photograph any, but it may well be permitted to do so now. Usually the only other information about them is the occasional comment in the Board or Council minutes, also in the ERO.

There are three different types of plan. The ones which are literally plans, drawn horizontally of the floors and grounds. There are elevations, giving vertical views of the outside of the building. And there are sections, giving vertical views through the building. Some applications have all three types, others only one.

In the notes and tables below, I have tried to gather together the information which tends to be scattered about the plans. And also to add the present location and/or address of the property in question, from my own deductions. I hope this information will be as useful to others as it has been to me.

Street numbers were not introduced in Witham until the 1920s, and the occupants of the houses often took some time after that before they troubled to use them. So to identify the buildings in the plans can sometimes be difficult. But I did manage most of them. I have used today’s street numbers to describe the buildings, even if they didn’t yet have numbers at the time I was writing about.

See also the following for some notes on Council minutes relating to building plans:
https://www.janetgyford.com/uncategorised/witham-udc-council-minutes-1896-1903-extracts-relating-some-building-plans/

The List

From the beginning of the table up to number 323, all the plans are included

No. Description

[my additions are in square brackets]

Address given People:

O=owner, A= architect, B=builder

Year of con-sent Probable address today
1 Three cottages near Cocks Farm (tce) Chipping Hill R Blackett (O) 1855 65-69 Braintree Road
2 Alterations to house

[large side extension; altered a bit since]

Chipping Hill G Coote (O) 1856 10 Chipping Hill
3 Residence Mill House, Chipping Hill (actually Powershall End) S Chopping (O) 1857 1 Powershall End
4 Alterations to Chapel Baptist Chapel, Maldon Road Trustees of Baptist Church (O) 1857 Chapel House, Maldon Road
5 Addition to cottages Chase near Maldon Road Thomas Tomkin, MD (O) 1857 3-5 Maldon Road ?
6 Four cottages (2 s-d) Near Mill Field Miss Ann Crump (O) 1858 2-8 Guithavon Valley
7 Additions to house Spa Place, Chipping Hill George Edwards (O) 1858 Spa Place, 58 Powershall End
7 A Drains Guithavon Street and Mill Lane 1855 Guithavon Street and Mill Lane
8 Four cottages (tce) Chipping Hill (‘Scrivener Terrace, Chalks Lane’ added later instead) John Chalk, Chipping Hill (O) 1858 57-63 Braintree Road
9 Cottage Powers Hall End, Chipping Hill Mr Bretnall (O) 1858 7? Powershall End
10 Eight houses (tce?) Guithavon Street, opposite the Church Mrs Elizabeth Hart (O) 1860 21-35 Guithavon Street
11 Alms Houses Church Street, Chipping Hill 1860 50-52 Church Street
11 A Three cottages (tce) Church Street, Chipping Hill William Hutley (O) 1860 33-37 Church Street
12 House Guithavon Street George and John Beard (O) 1860 Crown, Guithavon Street
13 Alteration of Almshouse fence Church Street, Chipping Hill 1860 50-52 Church Street
14 Alterations House occupied by Mr Tiffen, Newland Street H L White (O) 1860 ? Newland Street
15 Slaughterhouse

 

[added later]

Guithavon Street H Barwell (O) [added later] 1861 Guithavon Street
16 Two cottages (s-d) Mill Lane, between Crown beer house and cottages belonging to Mr Hanna G & J Beard (G Beard junior, Coggeshall) (O? and B) 1861 ?? Mill Lane
17 Two houses

 

[50 now much extended]

Maldon Road Mr Partridge (O) 1861 50-52 Maldon Road
18 House Guithavon Valley House, near Witham Mill J Quinney (O) 1861 Valley House (formerly Row Cottage), Mill Lane
18 A Cottage Witham Wharf James Beadel (O) 1862 ?
19 Villa Maldon Road (‘Freelands’ added later) Mr Page, Southminster (added later) [Page C esq, Old moor, Sminster, in 1862 direc] (O?); Fred Chancellor, 10 Pinners Hall, Old Broad Street, Chelmsford (A); J Coote (B) (also a loose letter which was filed at 81 when I looked, from Fred Chancellor) 1862 Freeland House, 20 Maldon Road
20 Mason’s house (two houses) Easton Road (added later) Mr Beadel (O) 1862 1-2 Easton Road
21 Revised Plan of boundary walls for new villa Maldon Road Mr Page (O) 1862 Freeland House, 20 Maldon Road
22 House

 

[alteration to 18?]

Corner Mill Field and Mill Road (‘Guithavon Valley’ added later) Mr Davey (O) 1863 Valley House (formerly Row Cottage), Mill Lane
23 Chapel

 

[nice elevation]

Guithavon Street Wesleyan Connexion (O); Charles Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1863 Methodist Hall, Guithavon Street
24 House Near Captain Luard’s (‘Greentree Café, Hatfield Road’ added later) Mr Joslin (O) 1863 Jack and Jenny, Hatfield Road?
25 House For Lawn Mr Wright (O) 1865 Lawn Cottage, 94 Newland Street
26 House for Mistresses

 

[Since demolished]

National School, Guithavon Street National School (O) 1865 National Schools, Guithavon Street
27 Six almshouses (tce)

 

[known as Paradise Row, since demolished]

 

 

Guithavon Street 1867 Site of Methodist chapel, Guithavon Street
27 A Dwelling Guithavon Street Mrs Hart (O) 1868 37 Guithavon Street?
28 Two cottages (s-d) Blue Mills Messrs B & R W Dixon (O) 1869? Blue Mills Hill?
29 Two cottages (s-d) Eagle Yard Messrs J. Savill, Witham (O) 1869 Eagle Yard, Maldon Road
30 Five cottages (tce) Faragon Terrace, Bridge Street Mrs Thomasin (O) 1869 or 1870? Faragon Terrace, 59-67 Bridge Street
30 A Alterations

 

[since demolished]

Fellmongers, Mill Lane Messrs W & T Johns (O); Charles Pertwee (A) 1869 Former tannery, Mill Lane
31 Two cottages (s-d) Chalks Road (added later)
32 Four cottages (tce) Chalks Road (added later)
No plans 1871-82, except see 40-44
33 Villas (tce) Medina Villas, Newland Street
34 Four cottages (tce) Temples Estate, lots 24 and 25 (‘Braintree Road’ added later)
35 Missing or number not used
36 Five cottages (tce)

 

[since demolished]

Freebornes farm (‘Chess Lane’ added later)
37 Two cottages )(s-d)

 

[Prob. 2 pairs blt. 27-29 have 1883 on. [NB no plans found for 31-33 which are different, with doors in front; they have 1887 on)]

27 and 29 Braintree Road (added later)
38 Two houses (s-d) 10 and 12 Albert Road (added later; should be 10-11)
38 A House
39 Shop and residence Chipping Hill (’10 Chipping Hill’ added later; should be 10 Braintree Road)
40 Two labourers cottages (s-d)
41 House

 

[nice elevation]

Avenue Road (added later, should be Chipping Hill)
42 Four cottages (2 s-d)

 

[passage in middle, blt over at 1st floor]

Braintree Road (added later)
43 Workshops and boiler house Chipping Hill (added later) Joseph Smith (O and B) 1880s? Chipping Hill Industrial estate, behind 1a Braintree Road
44 Two cottages (s-d) Braintree Road — (Consent signed E Chalk for Mr Jones?) 1880s? 6-8 Braintree Road, Harwin Cottages
44 A Two villas

 

[don’t think I saw this]

1 and 2 Avenue Road [?] (probably renumbered since) F Speakman (O); C Pertwee (A) 1884 62-64 Avenue Road
45 Pair of cottages (s-d)

 

[probably not built. Not 1897 O.S. and different style now]

Chipping Hill (‘5 and 7 Braintree Road’ added later) Joseph Smith (O? & B); C Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1886 5-7 Braintree Road
46 Warehouse, shops and cottages (latter s-d)

 

[nice elevations]

Collingwood Road (‘Lockram Villas’ added later) E C Smith (O); C Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1887 1-9 Collingwood Road, and Lockram Villas, 7-9 Collingwood Road
47 Four cottages (tce) Albert Road, Chipping Hill Harriet E & Edgar Chalk (O); C Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1887? 5-8 Albert Road
48 Seven cottages (tce) Chipping Hill (‘Temple Terrace, Braintree Road’ added later) Joseph Smith (O? & B); Charles Pertwee (A) 1887 35-47 Braintree Road, Temple Terrace
49 House

 

[since demolished]

Chipping Hill (‘8 Chipping Hill’ added later) Joseph Smith (O? & B); F E L Harris, Chelmsford (A) 1889 Temples, 8 Chipping Hill?
50 Seed warehouse.

 

[Nice drawings. Since burnt down]

Grove Road (later Avenue Road) George Taber (O); J C Smith (A) 1894? (this date poss added to plan later) Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
51 Four houses (tce) Bridge Street (‘3, 5, 7 and 9 Bridge Street’ added later) E C Sayer (O); Leonard J Veit, 171 Cemetery Road, Ipswich (A) 1891 3-9 Bridge Street
52 Grooms cottage House in Newland Street behind Roslyn House (added later) Miss Mitchell (O); James Gamble (B); R Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) 1891? 14 Newland Street
53 House Chipping Hill (‘3 Avenue Road’ added later; probably renumbered since) Joseph Smith (O? & B); F E L Harris, 85 High Street, Chelmsford (A) 1891 58 Avenue Road
54 House Avenue Terrace Francis Speakman (O); J Clark?, Coggeshall (A) 1892 Holly Villa, 60 Avenue Road
55 House Powershall End Miss Tuff (O) 1892 or 1893? 119 Powershall End
56 Two houses (s-d) Chipping Hill (‘Avenue Road’ added later) Joseph Smith (O? & B); Charles Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1892 or 1893? 54-56 Avenue Road
57 Cottage Chipping Hill (‘Braintree Road’ added later) W G Richards (O & B); R Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) 1893 4 Braintree Road
58 Public Hall

 

[drawings nice but faint]

Collingwood Road Edward J Dampier, Colchester, Diocesan Surveyor for St Albans (A) 1894? Public Hall, Collingwood Road
58 A Alteration to drainage 26th Liverpool Regiment and 58th Field Bakery A.S.C., Public Hall DORE, Chelmsford 1918 (loose, out of order) Public Hall, Collingwood Road
59 Two cottages (s-d) 3 and 4 Easton Road (added later) Richard Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) 1894 3-4 Easton Road
60 House 12 Albert Road (added later) W H Bygrave (O); F H Baller, Architect and Surveyor, Colchester and Clacton (A) 1894 12? Albert Road
61 Two cottages (s-d) Chipping Hill (‘Bygrove Cottages, Braintree Road’ and ‘Grosvenor Villas’ added in two different hands) W G Richards (O? & B); R Mawhood, 2 Market Road, Chelmsford (A) 1894 15-17 Braintree Road, Grosvenor Villas
62 Three houses (tce)

 

[six were built]

Station Road (‘Easton Road’ added later) Joseph Smith (O? & B); R Mawhood, Architect, 2 Market Road, Chelmsford (A) 1894 5-10 Easton Road
63 Four pairs of villas (4 s-d)

 

[probably not built]

Grove Road (later Avenue Road) Joseph Smith (O? & B); R Mawhood, architect, Chelmsford (A) 1894 ? Avenue Road
64 Two houses (s-d) Chipping Hill (‘Albert Road’ added later) Robert Moore (O) 1894 or 1895 ? 13-14 Albert Road
65 Four cottages (ter) Church Street Mr Wadley (O) 1895 25-31 Church Street
66 Villa

 

[changed by plan 69]

Grove Road (later Avenue Road) Joseph Smith (O? & B) 1895 38 Avenue Road
67 Sewer for draining houses Station Road [actually Easton Road] Joseph Smith (O) 1895 ? Easton Road (Avenue Road on plan too)
68 Two cottages (s-d).

 

[since demolished]

Maltings Cottages near Goods Station off Avenue Road (added later) Messrs Gray (O); Fred Chance-llor, c/o Finsbury Circus, EC (A) 1896 East side of Station Road, on way to Maltings
69 Alterations to rooms of house (original plan passed 1895)

 

[previous plan 66]

Grove Road (later Avenue Road) Joseph Smith (O? and B); Albert M Clarke (A?) 1896? 38 Avenue Road
70 House 18 Avenue Road (added later; probably renumbered since) William Stevens, Witham (O); Ernest Geldart (A) 1896 Thirroul, c.24 Avenue Road
71 Additions and alterations The George Inn, Collingwood Road T D Ridley & Sons (O); F E L Harris, 75 High Street, Chelmsford (A) 1896 The George, 36 Newland Street
72 Two cottages (s-d) r Road C Lewis (O? and B) 1896? ? Maldon Road
72 A Two cottages (s-d) Providence Cottages, Maldon Road (added later) [no name of Providence cotts] G Robjent (O); R Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) 1896 78-80 Maldon Road
72 B Two cottages (s-d)

 

[Poss not built. Not on 1897 OS, & different style now]

Chipping Hill (Braintree Road on plan) Joseph Smith (O? and B); Albert M Clarke, surveyor, Witham (A?) 1896? 9-11 Braintree Road
73 Two cottages (s-d) Drill Yard, Mill Lane Dr W G Gimson (O); Albert M Clarke (A) 1897 ? Mill Lane
74 Building land

 

[Printed sale catalogue]

Maldon Road Abrey & Gardner (O?) 1896 ? Maldon Road
75 Two villas (s-d) Maldon Road F C Payne (O) 1896? 33-35 Maldon Road
76 Two cottages (s-d) Chipping Hill Mrs J Alliston (O); Walter W Rust (B) 1897 47-49 Chipping Hill
77 Four villas (2 s-d)

 

[Only one pair there; new bung’s to south]

Maldon Road A R Motion (O); H W Richards (B) 1897 62-64 Maldon Road
78 Telephone wire Witham E M Blyth (O); Albert M Clarke, Witham (A) 1897 Old Mill House, Guithavon Valley, to 31 Newland Street
79 Villa Station Road (later Easton Road) [but actually Albert Road] Mrs Robert Moore (O); Albert M Clarke (A) 1897 15 Albert Road
79 A Alterations (new porch?) The Grove P E Laurence, JP (O) 1897? The Grove, Newland Street
80 Six houses Chipping Hill J Smith & Son (O and B); Albert M Clarke, Witham (A) CANCELLED 1897 3-29 Chipping Hill (not built)
81 ‘Small cottage residence’ Brookcote, Chipping Hill J Smith & Sons (O? and B); George Sherrin, 33 Finsbury Circus, E C (A) 1897 Brookcote, 29 Chipping Hill
82 Wash houses Maldon Road Mr?. Hicks (O); James Gamble (B) 1897 ? Maldon Road (poss pt of Trafalgar Sq?)
83 Residence.

 

 

[Since demolished]

Station Road [actually Easton Road] E West (O and B); F Whitmore, Chelmsford (A) 1897 Easton Road, far end, east of terrace
84 Two cottages (s-d) Maldon Road John Camping (O); Albert M Clarke (A) 1897? 82-84 Maldon Road
85 Infirmary (for 24 beds)

 

[since demolished]

South Metropolitan Schools (later Bridge) South Metropolitan Schools (O); F Whitmore, Chelmsford (A) 1897? Hospital wing, Bridge, Hatfield Road
86 Corn market.

 

[Since demolished]

Chipping Hill A E Clear of Maldon (O); P M Beaumont, Maldon (A) 1897? Collingwood Road, by railway bridge
87 Alterations (new retort house?)

 

[since demolished]

Gas Works Witham Gas & Coke Co. Ltd (O) 1897? Gas Works, 134 Newland Street, and Mill Lane
88 Fences [Plan shows ‘bathing place’] Witham Sewage Farm Albert Millar Clarke?, surveyor (A) 1897 Sewage works
88 A Attic rooms Chipping Hill Mrs I Alliston (O); Walter W Rust (B and A) 1897? 47-49 Chipping Hill
89 Two coal sheds 2 and 3 Albert Road W Tyler (B?) 1897? 2-3 Albert Road ?
90 Stable Brookcote (added later), Chipping Hill (on plan) J Smith & Son (O? and B); George Sherrin, 33 Finsbury Circus, EC (A) 1897 Brookcote, 29 Chipping Hill
91 Two villas (s-d) Grove Road (later Avenue Road) Charles Lewis, sanitary engineer, general contractor, High Street, Witham (O?, B and A?) 1897 42-44 Avenue Road
92 Four cottages (ter) Chalks Road John Wadley (O); W G Richards, Chipping Hill, Witham (B); H W Richards (A?) 1897 Diamond Terrace, 11-14 Chalks Road
93 Six cottages (ter) Station Road [actually Easton Road] J Smith & Son (O? and B) 1897 11-16 Easton Road
94 Workshop Collingwood Road Smith & Lock (O and B); W P Perkins (A?) 1897 2 Collingwood Road, now site of Ben Sainty Court
95 House Avenue Road Charles Lewis (O? and B); W P Perkins (A) 1898 40 Avenue Road
96 Storeroom Chipping Hill J Smith & Son (O? and B); W P Perkins (A?) 1898 Chipping Hill Industrial estate, behind 1a Braintree Road
97 Three water closets (tce) Church Street, Chipping Hill Mrs W Rust (O); W W Rust (B and A) 1898? 10 or 12 Church Street ?
98 Alteration of Boundary Fence Avenue Road W P Perkins (A?) 1898 Thirroul, c.24 Avenue Road?
98 A Workshop

 

[Either not built or demolished]

Station Road (actually Avenue Road) Messrs J Smith & Son (O? and B); W P Perkins (A?) 1898? 48 Avenue Road, back of
99 Lodge Avenue Road Percy E. Laurence (O); Charles Lewis (B); George Sherrin, 33 Finsbury Circus, EC (A) 1898 Avenue Lodge, Collingwood Road
100 Additions Blunts Hall Rt Hon Lord Rayleigh (O); James Gamble (B) 1898? Blunts Hall
101 Alterations & Additions Matayns (later Blue Mills) G W Grabham, MD (O); Charles E Butcher, 3 Queen Street, Colchester (A) 1898 Blue Mills
102 Five houses (terrace) Powers Hall End Walter Butler, Guithavon Street (O); W P Perkins (A?) 1898 or 1899? 37-45 Powershall End
103 Alterations Mill E M Blyth (O); W P Perkins (A?) 1899 Old Mill House, Guithavon Valley?
104 House Stradavon, Grove Road (later Avenue Road) H Mortimer (O); Joseph Smith & Son (B) 1899 36 Avenue Road
104A Bay Window Stradavon, Grove Road (later Avenue Road) H Mortimer (O) 1899 36 Avenue Road
105 Cart shed Church Street Fred Hasler (O) 1899? 56 Church Street ?
106 Dressing room and covered promenade The Public Hall, Collingwood Road Witham Public Hall Co Ltd (Wm Stephens, Hon Sec, The Homestead, Witham) (O); W P Perkins (A?) 1899 Public Hall, Collingwood Road
107 House

 

[I thought this was missing when I looked. Also see 118]

Avenue Road A B Lake (O); J Smith & Son (B) 1899? 46 Avenue Road
108 Cloakroom The Public Hall, Collingwood Road The Public Hall Co (O); Charles Lewis (B), George Sherrin, 33 Finsbury Circus (A) 1899 Public Hall, Collingwood Road
109 House Avenue Road Joseph Smith (O? and B) 1899 34 Avenue Road
110 House [since demolished] Earlsmead?, Chipping Hill Road Joseph Smith & Son (O? and B); George Sherrin, 33 Finsbury Circus, EC (A) 1899 Earlsmead?, Chipping Hill
111 House Braintree Road, Chipping Hill J Chapman of Braintree Road (O) 1899 13 Braintree Road
111A Barley Store and Kiln

 

[Nice elevations of old maltings. Since redeveloped]

The Maltings, near Railway Station Messrs Harrison Gray (O); Fred Chancellor (A) 1900 Maltings, Station Road
112 Two houses (s-d)

 

[see also 125]

Avenue Road G Twissell (O?); Joseph Smith (B) 1900? 50-52 Avenue Road
113 Coal, knife and boot store

 

[since demolished]

Temples, Chipping Hill Joseph Smith (O? and B) 1900? Temples, 8 Chipping Hill
114 WC and lavatory Governors House, The Witham Gas Works, Mill Lane The Witham Gas & Coke Company Ltd (Wm Bindon Blood, Chairman) (O) 1901 134 Newland Street, and Mill Lane
115 Two houses (s-d) Braintree Road Claydon & Hellen (O); H W Richards, Chipping Hill (B) 1901 28-30 Braintree Road
116 WC addition

 

[ I saw this as loose papers at the back of the book]

Maldon Road Witham Co-operative Society (O); J Gamble (B) 1901 ? Maldon Road
117 Warehouse, and alterations and additions Co-operative Society, High Street Witham Co-operative Soc (Fredk Bowyer, Secretary) (O); Goodey & Cressall, Colchester (A) 1901 ? Newland Street (Co-op)
118 House.

 

[also see 107]

Avenue Road A B Lake (O); Joseph Smith & Son (B) 1901 or 1902? 46 Avenue Road
119 Drainage plan and additions Bridge School (also a loose specification and a plan in back of volume) Witham? Metropolitan Asylums Board (O); W T Hatch (A) 1901 Bridge, Hatfield Road
120 House Guithavon Street Mary Morrell of Woodham (O) 1902 ? Guithavon Street
121 Warehouse addition to factory.

 

[since burnt down]

Avenue Road Cooper Taber & Co (O); Joseph Smith, Chipping Hill (B) 1902 Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
122 Outhouse Newland Street Dr Gimson (O); H W Richards (B and A?) 1902 or 1903? 125 or 127 or 129 ? Newland Street
123 Additions to house Albert Road, Chipping Hill Mrs R Moore (O) 1902 or 1903? 15 Albert Road
124 New bay

 

[since demolished]

Temples, Chipping Hill Joseph Smith and Son, Builders, Contractors and Brick Manufacturers, Steam Joinery Works, Sawing and Planing Mills, Chipping Hill (O? and B) 1903 Temples, 8 Chipping Hill
125 Two houses

 

[see also plan 112]

Avenue Road Joseph Smith (O? and B) ? 50-52 Avenue Road
126 Two cottages (s-d)

 

[Not built. See plan 192]

Braintree Road Joseph Smith, builders (O? and B) 1903 1-3 Braintree Road
127 Lineman’s room Post Office, High Street Joseph Smith and Son (B) 1903 84 Newland Street
128 House

 

 

[Superseded by 177]

Maldon Road W W Brown (O); Joseph W Smith (B) 1903 56 Maldon Road
129 Wash house Albert Road Mrs R Moore (O) 1903? 15 Albert Road
130 Addition Bank House Mrs Peecock (O); Walter W Rust (B and A?) 1901? 61 Newland Street
131 numbers 131-139 not used; after this the plans are separate and not in a volume
140 House and offices.

 

[since demolished]

Collingwood Road W B Blood (O) 1904? 10 Collingwood Road
141 Missing?
142 New shop front

 

[Smith letters Xeroxed]

High Street Mrs Martha Olley (O); Joseph Smith & Son, builders, contractors [et al.], Witham (B) 1904 95 Newland Street
143 Additional seed warehouse.

 

[Since burnt down]

Avenue Road and Station Road Cooper Taber & Co Ltd (H Simpson, director), 90 & 92 Southwark Street, London SE, and Witham (O); W P Perkins, architect and surveyor, Witham (A) 1904 Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
144 Three houses

 

[Revision asked for. See also 147]

Bridge Street E M Blyth, Witham (O); Richard Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) 1904 4-8 Bridge Street
145 Drying floor

 

[Can’t see approval. Since burnt down]

Avenue Road and Station Road Cooper Taber & Co Ltd (H Simpson, director), 90 & 92 Southwark Street, London SE, and Witham (O); W P Perkins, architect and surveyor, Witham (A) 1904 Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
146 New stores on site of fire, and additions to workshops Chipping Hill Jos Smith & Son, Chipping Hill (O and B) 1904 Chipping Hill Industrial estate, behind 1a Braintree Road
147 Drainage to cow yard

 

[See also 144]

Bridge Street E M Blyth (O); R Mawhood, Chelmsford (A) NOT APPROVED 1904 4-8 Bridge Street
148 House Evegate, Avenue Road [can’t see house name on plan now, 2001 – perhaps on wrapper removed ?] Miss Hobbs (O); Jos Smith, Temples, Witham (B) 1904 48 Avenue Road
149 Two houses Howbridge Hall Road R F Baker, Rivenhall (O) 1904 6-7 [consec] Howbridge Road
150 Workshop and showroom Collingwood Road J E Glover, Collingwood Road, for Glover Bros. 1904 38 Newland Street and 1-3 Collingwood Road
151 Mens WC International Stores, High Street International Stores (O) 1904 43? Newland Street
152 Shed for storing flour, and alteration to elevation of shop front.

 

[Letter Xeroxed]

The Bakery, Witham High Street W Ardley (O); Walter W Rust, builder and contractor (B and A) 1905 137 Newland Street
153 Four cottages

 

[No approval recorded; not built]

Off Newland Street Percy E Laurence esquire(O); P M Beaumont, Maldon (A) 1905 Chess Lane
154 Bathroom Christmas House, High Street Mrs Archer (O); Jos Smith & Son, builders, Witham (B) 1905 98 Newland Street
155 Alterations and additions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Grove Cottages, Newland Street Percy E Laurence esq (O); P M Beaumont, Maldon, MSA (A) 1905 1-5 Grove Cottages, Newland Street
156 Coalshed and WC High Street G Gage (O) 1905 48 Newland Street
157 Additions The Rowans, Avenue Road Joseph Smith and Son (O and B) 1905 34 Avenue Road
158 WC Kings Chase, premises late Kings J E Smith (O and B) 1905 105 Newland Street
159 House Collingwood Road Percy E Laurence (O); P M Beaumont, Maldon (A) 1905 18 Collingwood Road (Bygrove house)
160 Lavatories & Kitchen Congregational Chapel, High Street Trustees of Congregational Church (O); Jos Smith & Son, Chipping Hill, builders (B) 1905 88 Newland Street (behind), in yard of URC
161 Extensions to two houses Church Street H W Richards (O and B) 1905 54-56 Church Street
162 Engine House adjoining steam mill Mill Street [i.e. Mill Lane] Edward Mark Blyth (O) 1905 Mill House, Guithavon Valley
163 Storehouse The Temples, Chipping Hill J Smith & Son (O and B) 1905 8 Chipping Hill
164 Closets 3, 4 & 5 Grove Cottages, Newland Street Percy E Laurence esq (O); P M Beaumont, MSA, Maldon (A) 1905 3-5 Grove Cottages, Newland Street
165 Six Houses Guithavon Road (cat says Street in error) J Ernest Smith (O); J Ernest Smith & Son (B) 1905 21-26 Guithavon Road (consec)
166 Four Cottages Albert Road Messrs H & C Richards (O); H W Richards (B) 1905 16-19 Albert Road (consec)
167 Villa Chipping Hill (Chalks Lane on map) John Wadley (O) 1905 Dean House, 21 Chalks Road
168 Addition to House Powers Hall End Walter Hammond, 12 Bruce St, Bromley by Bow, London E (O) 1906 88 Powershall End
169 Six Cottages Guithavon Road (cat says Street in error) J Ernest Smith (O); J Ernest Smith & Son (B) 1906 15-20 Guithavon Road (consec)
170 Additions to Cottage

 

[Since demolished and new houses built]

Powers Hall End Alfred Partner, Witham (O) 1906 76-78 Powershall End approx
171 House Collingwood Road Miss S K Chaplin, Witham (O)
172 Alterations to Almshouses Church Street, Chipping Hill H W Richards (B)
173 House and ‘fat boiling shed

 

[‘Not carried out’ written over plan. See 178′]

Guithavon Road / Blunts Hall Road J Ernest Smith (O); J E Smith and Son (B)
174 New Classrooms White Hall College Joseph Smith & Son (B)
175 Shed & Store Newland Street Richard Ortlewell of Messrs Ortlewell & Son Ltd (O)
176 Missing
177 Three Cottages

 

[Plan for 56 supersedes 128]

Maldon Road J Smith (O and B)
178 Three Houses Guithavon Road J Ernest Smith (O and B)
179 Addition to House Holly Villa, Avenue Road F Speakman, Holly Villa (O)
180 Two Houses (s-d) Collingwood Road H W Richards (O and B)
181 Two Houses Collingwood Road J Afford Esq (O); Jos Smith & Son, builders, Witham (B)
182 Alterations to Boiler House and WCs The Works, Chipping Hill Joseph Smith & Son, builder, Chipping Hill (O and B)
182A Two Pairs of Cottages

 

[?Whether built. Look similar but newer]

Braintree Road Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (O)
183 Two Villas (s-d) Maldon Road J E Smith (O); J Smith & Son (B)
184 Additional two bedrooms Row Cottage, Mill Lane Leonard Bentall of Church House, Maldon (O); V C Payne of Maldon (A)
185 Two Cottages

 

[Demolished in 2001]

Cut Throat Lane G E R Witham (O); J E Smith & Son, Witham (B)
186 Office [refused] Lockram Lane H Page (O); H W Richards (B)
187 Office

 

[Plan poss has roads reversed]

Collingwood Road H Page (O); H W Richards (B)
188 Villa Collingwood Road Mr Lass (O); H W Richards for M Richards and Son (B)
189 Two Houses

 

[Not built. Site cut off by Albert Road]

Braintree Road S Letheren (O)
190 Seed Warehouse

 

[Nice elevations and plans]

White Horse Lane Thomas Cullen, Witham (O)
191 House The Bungalow, Collingwood Road Fred Hayward (O); Jos Smith & Son, Witham (B)
192 House

 

[Letter with Smith’s letter head Xeroxed]

Braintree Road Mrs Page (O); J Smith & Son (B)
193 Garden shed High Street Mr Gibbs (O); J Smith & Son (B)
194 Rebuilding of Workshop recently destroyed by fire High Street A R Brown, coachbuilder (occupant), J Ernest Smith, Chipping Hill (O? and B)
195 New trap house and rebuilding of stable

[check manor]

Rear of High Street Messrs Goodchild Bros (O); John T Lever, surveyor, Witham (A)
196 Coal Store & Cart shed Newland street Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (Frederick Bowyer) (O)
197 Wash house & Coals

 

[just small bit at rear]

Braintree Road Mrs. Page (O); J Smith & Son (B)
198 Alterations of house Cambridge villa, London Road Herbert E Fellows, Bocking (A)
199 Four cottages Albert Road Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (O)
200 House Collingwood Road W P Perkins, Collingwood Road (O and A?)
201 Cottage

 

[Poss supers. by 243 qv. 2 also looks similar but has an extra bay on right]

Avenue Road J Smith & Son (O and B) 1909 8 Avenue Road ?
202 Four cottages Albert Road Messrs Richards (O), H W Richards (B) 1909 20-23 Albert Road (consec)
203 Two houses (s-d) Collingwood Road H W Richards (O and B) 1909 45-47 Collingwood Road
204 Motor garage Newland Street J E Smith (O); J Smith & Son (B 1909
205 Extension Railway Cottage, Highfields Road C W Hodges (O); H W Richards (B) 1909 20 Highfields Road
206 House Solheim, Collingwood Road Wm G Naylor, Braintree Road (O and B?) 1909 37 Collingwood Road
207 Park Cottage Maldon Road P E Laurence (O); J T Lever (A) 1909 54 Maldon Road
208 Alterations & Additions

 

[nice plan]

Barclays Bank, High Street Messrs. Barclays Bank (O); Chancellor & Son, architects, 20 Finsbury Circus EC, and Chelmsford (A) Not to be produced without permission of County Archivist 1909 61 Newland Street
209 Four cottages Albert Road Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (O) 1909 24-27 Albert Road (consec)
210 Church House Collingwood Road Fred Chancellor & Son, 20 Finsbury Circus, EC, and Chelmsford, Essex (A) 1909 Church House, Collingwood Road
211 Stable & Cart Shed Newland Place J Smith & Son (O and B) 1909 Newland Place, behind 83-89 Newland Street
212 Workshop Newland Street J E Smith (O); Jos Smith & Son (B) 1909 97 Newland Street
213 Garage The Grove P E Laurence esq, J P, the Grove (O); J T Lever (A) 1909 The Grove, 1 Newland Street
214 House Albert Road Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (Frederick Bowyer, secretary) (O) 1910 32 Albert Road
215 Drains [since demolished] The Tan Yard, Mill Lane Messrs. Rowland Stagg Ltd, Tonbridge (O) 1910 Tan yard, Mill Lane
216 Constitutional Club Collingwood Road J Holdsworth, MSIA, Council Offices, Witham (A?) 1910? Constitutional Club, 14 Collingwood Road
217 Garage Blunts Hall The Hon C Hedley Strutt (O); H W Richards (B) 1910 Blunts Hall, Blunts Hall Road
218 House Collingwood Road William Heddle Esquire (O); F. Hutton & Son, builders and contractors, Birch, Colchester (B and A) 1910 48 Collingwood Road
219 New bank and house.

 

[nice plan]

High Street The Capital & Counties Bank Ltd , Witham (O); John P Briggs FRIBA Effingham House, Arundel Street, Strand (A) Not to be produced without permission of County Archivist 1910 99 Newland Street
220 Alterations and additions to house

 

[Nice plans of house and grounds.]

Ivy Chimneys Lady Luard (O); Wykeham Chancellor, Chelmsford (A) 1910 Ivy Chimneys, Hatfield Road
221 Three cottages Powers Hall End J H F Foster, Great Baddow (O); Johnson & Hawkes, New Street, Chelmsford (B); D Smith Son & Oakley, Charles St, SW (surveyors) 1910 66-70 Powershall End
222 Blacksmiths shop

 

[Plan of yard and cottages etc]

Fleuty’s yard, Bridge Street Beckwith & Gentry, Hatfield and Braintree (on applic), Witham (on plan) (B?) 1910 Corner of Bridge Street and Howbridge Road (now RAFA club)
223 Alterations and additions, new office, showroom, committee room Witham Co-operative Society, High Street Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (O) Goodey and Cressall, architects, Colchester (A) 1911 115 Newland Street
224 Addition to house

 

[In 2000 this extension was replaced by a two-storey one]

Braintree Road Miss Perry (O); J Smith & Son (B and A) 1911 44 Braintree Road
225 House Brampton Hut, Guithavon Valley Bernard C Afford (O); Joseph Smith & Son (B and A) 1911 5 Guithavon Valley
226 WC Woodham, Guithavon Street Miss Morrell (O); W W Rust (B) 1911 Woodhams, 16 Guithavon Street
227 Additions to Collingwood House

 

[Nice plans with nursery etc]

Collingwood Road Mrs. A P Brown (O); H W Mann (A) 1911 15 Collingwood Road
228 Omitted

 

[not seen]

Office 1911
229 Re-erect an office in the yard Mill Road [actually Guithavon Valley] Edward Mark Blyth, Mill House (O) 1911 Old Mill House, Guithavon Valley
230 Four cottages Guithavon Road Joseph Smith & Son (O and B) 1911 7-10 Guithavon Road (consec)
231 Addition to shop Church Street, Chipping Hill F Hasler (O); H W Richards (B) 1911 54 A Church Street
232 Engine and storage sheds Witham Lodge E Pelly esq, Twyford House, Bishops Stortford (O); Morley & Foster, Buckhurst Hill (A) 1911 Witham Lodge, Hatfield Road
233 Lean-to shed The Glove Factory, Albert Road (plan calls it Station Road) National Glove Company (W Pinkham) (O) NOT APPROVED 1911 13 Albert Road (second glove factory)
234 Laundry Rear of Ivy Chimneys cottages E Pelly Esq (O); H W Richards (B) 1911 Ivy Chimneys cottages, behind Ivy Chimneys, Hatfield Road
235 Alterations to sculleries and back additions to cottages Guithavon Road J Smith & Son (O and B) 1911 7-10 Guithavon Road (consec)
236 Cart shed Newland street Witham Co-operative Society Ltd (O) 1911 113-115 Newland Street and Kings Chase
237 Two houses (s-d) Collingwood Road Messrs Richards (O); H W Richards (B) 1911 41-43 Collingwood Road
238 Shed and urinal at Post Office High Street Joseph Smith (B) 1911 84 Newland Street
239 Office

 

[Refs to ‘Witham Market Syndicate’ and ‘Market room’]

Market Road Hugh Page (O); H W Richards, Witham (B) 1911 71 Collingwood Road, (next to bridge)
240 Motor house Collingwood Road Lewis B Cooper, Verbena House, Witham (O) 1911 27 Collingwood Road?
241 Additions to house

 

[very small]

Woodham, Guithavon Street Miss Morrell (O); Walter W Rust (B) 1911 Woodhams, 16 Guithavon Street
242 Office

 

[Layout of forge, paint shop etc (C and N were motor engineers)]

Newland Street Messrs Cullen & Nicholls, Witham (O); Joseph Smith and Son, Witham (B) 1911 97 Newland Street
243 House

 

[2 also looks similar but has an extra bay on right]

Avenue Road Mrs W Gepp (O); Jos Smith & Son (B) 1911 8 Avenue Road ?
244 Additional WCs. White Hall College Vincent Dimmer (O); Joseph Smith & Son (B) 1911 Whitehall, 18 Newland Street
245 Garage [commercial]

 

[Good elevation and shows old house on left]

High Street Mr J Glover (O); Henry W Mann, High Street, Witham, architect and surveyor (A) 1911 155-157 Newland Street
246 Temporary office Braintree Road G Lake (O); J Smith & Son (B) 1911 1A Braintree Road
247 Oven, bake office and stable

 

[Nice plan of bake house etc]

High Street Misses Shoobridge (O); A H Shoobridge, Braintree, Essex (A or B) 1912 29 Newland Street
248 Cloakroom White Hall College Vincent Dimmer (O) 1912 Whitehall, 18 Newland Street
249 Additions to house Chipping Hill T Cullen (O); H W Mann (A) 1912 16 Chipping Hill
250 A Glove Factory

 

[since demolished]

Chipping Hill William Pinkham (O); Joseph Smith & Son, Witham (B) 1912 1 Chipping Hill
251 Conversion into two cottages

 

[since demolished]

The late Bell Inn, Maldon Road The Chelmsford Brewery Co Ltd (O); Charles & N? H Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) NOT APPROVED 1912 37-39 Maldon Road
252 Four Cottages Guithavon Road J E Smith (O); Joseph Smith & Son (B) 1912 7-10 Guithavon Road
253 House Highfields Road W Stevens (O) 1912 116 Highfields Road
254 Two Cottages

 

[not built? (7-10 is a block of 4)]

Guithavon Road Jos Smith & Son (B) 1912 ?? add to 7-10 Guithavon Road
255 Four Houses

 

[Not built; 2 pairs there]

Braintree Road Witham The Witham Co-operative Society (4 plans) 1912 32-38 Braintree Road
256 Alterations

 

[Police Station since demolished]

Police Station, Guithavon Street Frank Whitmore, County Architect, Chelmsford (A) 1912 Site of Mill Vale Lodge, Guithavon Street
257 Slaughter house & pens

 

[since demolished]

Newland Street M and/or R Sorrell (O) 1912 143 Newland Street
258 WCs Church Street, Chipping Hill Mrs Wadley (O) 1912 Church Street; number un-certain
259 Earth closets

 

[Then 3 cottages; new house there since]

Highfields Road, Caperners Green Misses Shoobridge (O) 1912 47 Highfields Road
260 House & Shop

 

[Probably not built; superseded by 262]

Newland Street Richard Sorrell (O) 1913 141 Newland Street
261 [missing]

 

[also see 267]

262 House Newland Street R Sorrell (O) 1913 141 Newland Street
263 Conservatory & Smoking Room Thirroul, Avenue Road G E Dale (O); A F Lewis & Sons (B) 1913 PSE
264 Conversion into common lodging house.

 

[Since demolished]

The late Bell Inn, Maldon Road The Chelmsford Brewery Co Ltd (O); Charles & W H Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1913 37-39 Maldon Road
265 Electric Theatre (Picture Palace)

 

[Not built. Had arc light. On plan is between Mr Poulter (at no.147 according to Albert P) and Mr Ellis (149 according to directories)]

Newland Street Witham and District Electric Theatre Co. (Frank Tunbridge, The Olde Friars, Temperance Hotel, Chelmsford) (O); J W Cobb, Margaretting (A) 1913 Between 147 Newland Street and 149 Newland Street ?
266 Cart Shed

 

[Can’t see approval stamp. Since burnt down]

Avenue Road and Station Road A Wallis for Cooper, Taber & Co Ltd, Witham (O) 1913 Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
267 Six Cottages on smallholdings (see also 267A-267F) Howbridge Hall Farm Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 Various; see 267A – 267F
267A One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.182 Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 Home farm, Howbridge Hall Road
267B One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.183

 

[Demolished 1990s or 2000-2001]

Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 Pondholton farm (part), Maltings Lane (next to 138)
267C One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.184 Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 Howbridge Hall farmhouse, 63 Howbridge Road
267D One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.185 Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 21 Hatfield Road (formerly Laburnum Cottage)
267E One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.186

 

[Since demolished and replaced by Galpin House (flats]

Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 1 Hatfield Road
267F One of six Cottages on smallholdings; smallholding no.187 Howbridge Hall Farm (sub-letters A to F given by Janet Gyford for this list) Essex County Council (O); W J Pulford (agent to ECC) (A) [267 includes some plans from 261] 1913 92a Maldon Road (formerly Meadow View)
268 Two Houses Blunts Hall Road Hon C H Strutt (O); H W Richards (B) 1913 30-32 Blunts Hall Road
269 Alterations & Additions

 

[Nice drawings. No approval stamp]

Globe Inn, Newland Street Messrs William Bright and Sons Ltd (O); James W Clark, Chelmsford (A) 1913 132 Newland Street
270 Additions to Seed Warehouse

 

 

[Can’t see approval. Since burnt down]

Avenue Road and Station Road H Simpson, director, Cooper, Taber Co Ltd, 26? Southwark Street, SE (O) 1914 Cooper Taber warehouse, Avenue Road, now site of c.28-32 Avenue Road
271 Addition to Dean House Chalks Road Mrs Wadley (O); H W Richards (B) 1914 Dean House, 21 Chalks Road
272 Two Cottages

 

 

[Timbering now painted at 40 and covered at 42]

Braintree Road G Little (O); J D Dean (B) 1914 40-42 Braintree Road
273 House Collingwood Road Albert Wallis, Holmesdale, Witham (O) 1914 35 Collingwood Road
274 Engine Room

 

 

[Can’t see approval]

The Glove Factory, Chipping Hill W Pinkham (O); Joseph Smith & Son, Witham (B) 1914 Glove factory, 1 Chipping Hill
275 Bookstall & Tea House Grounds of the Rifle Range (water from stand pipe in Powershall End) W H Smith & Son, 128 Strand, London (O), by permission of the Army Council 1914 Powershall End (exact location not known)
276 Alterations and additions (new shop front, and extension to bakery) Witham Co-op premises Witham Co-op (O); Goodey and Cressall, Colchester (A)- 1915 113 Newland Street (shop front), 115 Newland Street (bakery)
277 Motor House Collingwood Road Oscar Heddle esq. (owner); C Blade Wenden, Witham (builder) 1915 48 Collingwood Road
278 Office Collingwood Road Witham Cartage and Coal Company (C C S[?] Roberts, sec) 1915 2 Collingwood Road now site of Ben Sainty Court)
279 Bungalow

Called ‘The Cottage’ on 1922 O.S. Since considerably extended and heightened

Maldon Road Grahame Brown (O), J D Dean, Witham (B) 1915 Lound Lodge, Maldon Road
280 Engine and boiler house (amended by 283)

 

[Since demolished]

Mill Lane Rowland Stagg Ltd., Witham (O) 1915 Tannery, Mill Lane (north of 21 Mill Lane)
281 Bathroom (probably first floor). Spread Eagle Hotel, High Street Chelmsford Brewery Co Ltd (O); Mawhood and Son, 17 Market Road, Chelmsford (A) 1915 Spread Eagle Hotel, 49 Newland Street
282 [missing]
283 Engine House (amended from 280)

 

[Since demolished]

Mill Lane Rowland Stagg Ltd. (per H Hodgman) (O) 1916 Tannery, Mill Lane (north of 21 Mill Lane)
284 Pair of cottages (s-d)

 

[Perhaps not built: not on 1922 O.S.]

Olivers farm, Maldon Road J D Dean, Witham (B), ‘with permission of Ministry of Munitions’ 1917 South of Olivers farm, Maldon Road
285 Engine house extension Chipping Hill National Glove Co., Witham (O); C Blade Wenden, Witham (B) 1918 Glove factory, 1 Chippjng Hill
286 Motor house Collingwood Road A C Mens esq (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1919 10 Collingwood Road
287 Conservatory

 

[Nice drawing of fancy fretwork]

Collingwood Road A C Mens esq (O); C Blade Wenden, Witham (B) 1919 10 Collingwood Road
288 Factory Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Company (O); Bradshaw, Gass and Hope FRIBA, Bolton (A) 1919 (appr) Crittall’s factory, Braintree Road
289 Three cottages (ter) Maldon Road A C Mens (O); J D Dean, ‘builder, contractor, decorator and undertaker, Witham’ (B) 1919 Olivers Cottages, Maldon Road
290 Alterations, provision of lavatories London Joint City and Midland Bank, Witham House London Joint City and Midland Bank (O); T B Whinney, FRIBA, 8 Old Jewry, London DC (A) 1919 57 Newland Street
291 Operators and Winding Rooms (on balcony, for showing films; see photo M708) Public Hall, Collingwood Road Charles and W H Pertwee, Chelmsford (A) 1919 Public Hall, 12 Collingwood Road
292 Motor garage (probably commercial garage) Maldon Road Wakelin and Leeding, Freebournes, Witham (per J S Leeding) (O) 1919 Then north of 77 Maldon Road, later Rowley’s garage; site now part of 77-83 Maldon Road
293 Granary

 

[Plan includes ‘War Stores Ground’ to the south]

Maldon Road Witham Cartage Company (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1919 Maldon Road, east side probably south of Blackwater Lane
294 [missing]
295 ‘Motor House’. Commercial showroom for ‘motor engineers’.

 

[Nice elevation]

Newland Street Messrs Wakelin and Leeding, Witham (O); Unit Construction Co Ltd, 246 High Holborn WC1 (B &/or A) 1919 3 Newland Street (Freebournes)
296 [missing]
297 Bungalow

 

[Converted army hut. Nice elevation. Since demolished]

Maldon Road J D Dean, Witham (O? and B) 1920 Site of ‘Lanner’, Maldon Road
298 Motor House (probably commercial) White Horse Lane Messrs Hurrell and Beardwell (O); J D Dean (B) 1920 White Horse Lane, north side, former builders’ yard
299 Garage and Stores Chipping Hill National Glove Co. (O); C Blade Wenden, Witham (B) 1920 Glove factory, 1 Chipping Hill
300 Offices Braintree Road Messrs T Cullen and Sons (O); C Blade Wenden, Witham (B) 1920 Part of 49 Braintree Road (single storey building on Braintree Road frontage)
301 Garage (commercial)

 

[Built from army hut (wood)]

Newland Street Glover Bros Ltd. (O) 1920 Rear of 155-157 Newland Street
302 Alterations

 

[Detailed plan of pub]

Albert Hotel Messrs Russell’s Gravesend Brewery (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1920 Albert public house, 2 Chipping Hill
303 Motor house Collingwood Road Witham Cartage Company (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1920 2 Collingwood Road, now site of Ben Sainty Court
304 Additions to house and shop Newland Street William Gage (O) 1920 48 Newland Street
305 Two bungalows (s-d)

 

[Two sets of plans, later ones substituted for earlier ones. Letter shows that was known in 1950 as Medway bungalow]

Maldon Road Walter Butler esq. (O); A R Dannatt, Braintree (A); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1920 Derwent and Conder, Maldon Road, west side, south of Maltings Lane
306 Nurses’ bungalow

 

[Letter says the submission is for Governement grant. Interesting plans]

Collingwood Road Frank Sherrin, A R Dannatt, ‘Great Square, Braintree’ (A) 1920 46 Collingwood Road
307 Alterations

 

[Plan of bar etc.]

White Hart Tap Messrs Russell’s Gravesend Brewery (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1921 White Hart Hotel, Newland Street
308 Additions.

 

[Good plans of bars etc]

The Swan, Newland Street James W Clark, Coggeshall (A and S) 1921 Swan public house, 153 Newland Street
309 Bath room and scullery etc. 3 Grove Terrace, Newland Street Mr Varden (O); W Wager and Son, Maldon Road, Witham (B) 1921 8 Newland Street
310 Cycle shop

 

[Superseded by 314]

Bridge Street W J Marshall (O) 1921 27A Bridge Street
311 Additions

 

[Shows day and night nurseries]

Iolanda House W Cecil Bywater (O); D G Armstrong (A?) 1921 Barnardiston House, 35 Chipping Hill
312 Motor house and store Newland Street Messrs Luckin Smith (O); C E Johnson, Rayne (B and/or A?) 1921 50 Newland Street
313 Carbide Store

 

[Date of

appro not given but appro stamp signed]

Crittall’s, Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Company (O) 1921 Crittall’s factory, Braintree Road
314 Cycle shop (superseding 310) Bridge Street W J Marshall (O) 1921 27A Bridge Street
315 Open cartshed Collingwood Road Witham Cartage and Coal Co Ltd. (by A C Mens) (O) 1921 2 Collingwood Road, now site of Ben Sainty Court
316 Alterations and additions

 

[Good plan of bars etc.]

Victoria, Powershall T D Ridley and Sons Ltd, Hartford End Brewery (O); Jas W Clark, Coggeshall (A) 1921 Victoria public house, Powershall End
317 Alteration; new fish shop from cart shed etc.

 

[New fish shop is probably now Tommy Tuckers]

Mill Lane H Lawrence (O); J W Clark, Coggeshall (A) 1921 132 Newland Street and/or 2 Mill Lane
318 Additions Glove factory, Chipping Hill National Glove Co., by W Pinkham (O) 1921 Glove factory, 1 Chipping Hill
319 Seed warehouse Braintree Road Messrs Thomas Cullen and Sons (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1921 Part of 49 Braintree Road (in yard, in front of entrance from Braintree Road.
320 Office White Horse Lane Hurrell and Beardwell (O); J D Dean (B) 1921 White Horse Lane, north side, former builders’ yard
321 Alterations and lavatories

 

[Plan of bars etc.]

Red Lion Hotel, High Street Russell’s Gravesend Brewery (O); J D Dean, Witham (B) 1921 Red Lion hotel, 7 Newland Street
322 House

 

[No form or details, just a block plan]

Collingwood Road 1921 25 Collingwood Road
323 Warehouse {?some plans xeroxed and numbered by me as 323 look like 347, Ox wrks, CHECK} Crittall’s, Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Company (O); Bradshaw, Gass and Hope FRIBA, Bolton (A) 1921

From here onwards, only a selection of the plans are included

No. Description

[my additions are in square brackets]

Address given People:

O=owner, A= architect, B=builder

Year of con-sent Probable address today
338 Addition (WC) Pelican Cottage, Collingwood Road Miss C A Pattisson 1923 16 Collingwood Road
339 ? Angel Inn, Newland Street and Maldon Road Baddow Brewery (O); C and W H Pertwee and Howard, The Institute, London Road, Chelmsford (A) 39 Newland Street
340
341
342 House Grove estate Messrs Wager and Son (O); C. and W H Pertwee and Howard, ‘Chelmsford’ (A) 1923
347 Oxygen Works

 

[See 323 for plans also]

Braintree Road British Oxygen Co and Crittall Manufacturing Company (O); Bishop and Etherington-Smith, 30 Duke Street, St James (A) 1924 (appr)
351 Three staff cottages Bridge Home Royal Eastern Counties Institution (O); F Douglas Turner, ‘MB, Essex Hall, Colchester’ (A) 1924 1-3 Spinks Lane
354 Six cottages Crittall Manufacturing Co. (O); C H B Quennell, 43 Bedford Row, WC1 (A) 1924 (appr) Manor Road
368 Alterations 34 Newland Street W E Bull (O) 1925
369 Conversion to lead glazing factory The Old Maltings, Maltings Lane Crittall Manufacturing Co (O); C H B Quennell, 43 Bedford Row, WC1 (A) 1925 (appr)
370 Pair of cottages Rickstones Road Crittall Manufacturing Co (O); C H B Quennell, 43 Bedford Row, WC1 (A) 1926 4-6 Rickstones Road?
371
372
373 373-500 no plans; numbers not used? No plans (numbers not used?)
501 Parlour type houses Rivenhall Road Crittall Manufacturing Co. (O); C H B Quennell, 43 Bedford Row, WC1 (A) 1926 4-6 Rickstones Road?
528 Conversion into shops and flats Angel inn, Newland Street W Wager and Son, ‘builders and decorators, Maldon Road, plumbers, sanitary engineers and hot water fitters, pump work, well boring and sinking a speciality’ (O) (B); W H Pertwee and Howard, ‘FLRIBA, Architects and Surveyors’ (A) 1927 39 Newland Street
556 Convert army cookhouse into two cottages Maltings Baird 1927
568 House White Horse Lane F H Fuller (O) 1927 Stefre, White Horse Lane
580 Social club

 

[Single storey, huts from Braintree]

Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Co, Building Department, Silver End (O) 1928
581 Cinema and concert hall

 

[Not built]

The Avenue, corner of Newland Street, east side Francis Bertram 1928
582 Conversion to cinema Whitehall, Newland Street W M Gaze 1928
626A New window store Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Co, Building Department, Silver End (O) 1930
671 New Peculiar Chapel and school Guithavon Valley Peculiar Chapel Trustees (O); W J Redhead, ‘Nanteos’, The Avenue, Witham (A) 1932
678 House

 

[Not built; replaced by 688]

Powershall End H H Gepp (O); A Douglas Robinson FRIBA, 104 Queen Victoria Street, EC4, and 15 East Hill, Colchester (A) CANCELLED 1932 Well House, 38 Powershall End
684 Gospel Hall Rickstones Road Mrs [or Miss] Blyth 1932
688 House Powershall End H H Gepp (O); A Douglas Robinson FRIBA, 104 Queen Victoria Street, EC4, and 15 East Hill, Colchester (A) 1932
725 Additions to power house Glove factory
727 Addition, schoolroom on back Methodist church, Guithavon Street W J Redhead, ‘Nanteos, The Avenue, Witham’ (A or B?) 1933
728 Shop with living accommodation over Newland Street H G Cook esquire (O); W J Redhead, ‘Nanteos, The Avenue, Witham’ (A or B?) 1933 5 and 5A Newland Street?
745 Lock-up shop 35 Newland Street F W Woolworth (O) 1934 (appr)
756 Alterations to house and shop Newland Street H G Cook
764 Alterations 46-48 Church Street F Hasler (O); Richards (B) 1934
777 Extension Glove factory Messrs Pinkham and Son Ltd
780 Extension (east end) Pantiles, Powershall End H H Gepp (O); A Douglas Robinson FRIBA, 104 Queen Victoria Street, EC4, and 15 East Hill, Colchester (A) 1935 (app) Well House
830 New Houses Cocks farm, Chalks Lane Adams and Mortimer (B) 1935 Chalks Road, St Nicholas Road (called Jubilee Road on plan)
838 Addition to office (probably adding new first floor) Braintree Road British Oxygen Company (O); Richards and Son (B) 1936
851 Two pairs of semi-detached houses Cocks farm, Chalks Lane Adams and Mortimer (B) 1936 Blanfred and Floreat, Chalks Road, 1 and 2 St Nicholas Road
885 Extension to factory Silver End Crittall Manufacturing Co (O) 1936
886 Extension to factory, (and moving fence back?)

 

[Replaced by 904]

Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Co, Braintree, Technical Department (O) 1936 First floor Social Club
904 Final plans for improvement and extension at Witham (as 886?)

 

[Replacing 886]

Braintree Road Crittall Manufacturing Co, Braintree, Technical Department (one plan signed V J Crittall) (O) 1936 First floor Social Club
1005 Rebuilding public house Morning Star, Bridge Street 1938
1027 Post Office, sorting office and garage Newland Street H M Office of Works, Dean Bradley House, Westminster, SW (O); W Sharpe Esq, Sanitary Engineer (A) 1939
1038 Automatic Telephone Exchange

 

[‘The whole of the site [in front] to be cleared of fruit trees and turfed’ – now stands at side of newer exchange]

Collingwood Road H M Office of Works (O); G H Ledger, ARIBA, H M Office of Works (A) 1939 19? Collingwood Road
1137 Conversion of barn to dwelling house Moat farm 1945
1170 Bungalow Highfields Road, behind Bankside, next to railway Mr and Mrs Mortimer (O); A W Wright, Builder, 7 Braintree Road (B) 1946
1177 Amended layout, housing estate Moat Farm estate (cancelled) 1946
1192 Alterations to school The Lawn Miss B English (O) 1946
1197 Extension of factory Glove factory W Pinkham and Sons (O); C H Harris, Architect and Surveyor, 27 Gloucester Place, W1 (A) 1948?  s

4 thoughts on “Building control in Witham”

    1. Hello Suzanne
      Thank you for your enquiry. I have some notes about the numbers of people on electoral registers at different times.
      This shows that the number of even numbered Council houses in Church Street were as follows:
      1923 – 0
      1930 – 0
      1939 – 37
      1946 – 82
      1951 – 84
      This suggests that they were built between about 1938 and the early 1940s. Though there would have been problems with building work actually during WW2 (1939-1945) because of shortage of materials.

      I hope that tells you what you want to know.

      Janet Gyford

    1. Hello Louise, sorry I don’t know exactly. I’ve always thought that the Howbridge Estate was built in the 1950s, or most of it, anyway. So it seems probable that the shop/P.O. came at around that time too. Is that near enouh for what you want?

      If not, you could ask Braintree District Council Planning Department about their historic records of planning consents. Permission in those days would have been given by Witham Urban District Council, but Witham U.D.C. were taken into Braintree District Council in 1974, and Braintree D.C. have the records now.

      I hope you find oout the anser to what you want to know.

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