Paycocke's House

This is the front of Paycocke's House, a National Trust Property built 1509/10.

It is an attractive half-timbered merchant's house with uncommonly intricate carved woodwork and panelling. Built for Thomas Paycocke it shows off the wealth generated by the cloth trade in Coggeshall and in Essex.

The house remained in the Paycocke family until 1584 when, at the death of John, the great-nephew of Thomas and the last male of his line, the house was sold to the Buxton family who had owned property in Coggeshall since 1537 and was related to the Paycocke family by marriage.

In 1746 the Buxtons sold the house and little is known about it until about 1880, save that it was converted into three cottages and had fallen into a sad state of dereliction. It was saved from demolition by the efforts of G. F. Beaumont, a well-respected historian, and was bought in 1904 by Lord Noel Buxton, a descendant of the original Buxton family.

The house was extensively restored by a local wood carver, Mr E.W. Beckwith, whose grandson, Andrew, until recently still carried on the art of wood carving in Coggeshall. The inside is wonderfully panelled and the ceiling beams are richly carved and there is a fine collection of Coggeshall tambour lace that can be viewed on request.