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====== 4 Church Street ======

No. 4 Church Street is a neat, late 18th century town house – built to pack as much accommodation as possible into a modest footprint in the expanding town.

When the house was built it was in St. Helens Street, that section of what is now Church Street that went from St. Nicholas Church down to the old town wall, near the south gate. At that time the new St. Nicholas Church had not been built and the old church was in a fairly sorry state. At some stage in the 19th century the section of road became known as Hanover Square and then, eventually, assimilated into Church Street.

The house is a very “urban” design – based on standard, published plans of the time and possibly influenced by houses built along the Thames. It is based on a timber frame with brick facade giving two storeys plus attics. The stack and stairs are in the middle of the house with central chimney, stairs one side and cupboard space on the other. The attic occupies the middle of the gambrel/mansard roof and features built-in “pilot bunks” (aka box beds) to make maximum use of the space.

The house is a well-preserved example of a compact but comfortable residence of its era.

===== Occupants =====

We have a possible candidate for the builder of 4 Church Street but cannot directly link him to the house. Joshua Nalborough was born in 1750 and had a block and mast making business in Harwich. Joshua died in 1834 and we eventually find his widow, his second wife Sarah, living at 4 Church Street on the 1841 census. Joshua’s will does not directly reference the location of his “dwelling house”. In 1841 Sarah is head of household and has Robert and Ann Nalborough living with her as well as servant, Mary Campion.

Sarah dies in 1849 and in 1851 we still find Robert Nalborough living at no. 4 with his sister Ann, listed as a “housekeeper” and a servant, Ann Springett.

In 1861 Robert Nalborough is still at no. 4 but now only has servant Mary Gaul keeping house for him.

In 1871 Robert has reached the grand old age of 70 but is now living alone at no. 4. His death is recorded in 1876.

In 1881 George Nalborough has moved in at no. 4 with his wife, Emma who is from Lambeth, and five children, who range in age from 3 to 17 years old. George is not from the mast and block making side of the family makes his living as a master draper, employing one man.

In 1891 Mary Harman and her daughter, Alice, are living at the house. Mary is recorded as a fisherman’s wife whose husband is away at sea but the enumerator records three visitors and a lodger who are all associated with the Royal Navy – possibly making use of the pilot bunks in the attic.

In 1901 John and Mary Whitmore and their daughter Alice are in residence at 4 Church Street. John is a surveyor of shipping, Mary is from Hampshire and Alice was born in Ipswich.

The 1911 census records that May Whitmore is now living at no. 4 with her sister Alice and a boarder, Ernest Brooks, who is a young “advertising specialist”.

===== Harwich Architectural Survey =====

The building at 4 Church Street was surveyed and interpreted as part of the Harwich Architectural Survey Project which was funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

An interpretation of 4 Church Street by Brenda and Elphin Watkin is available for {{ :4_church_street_building_survey.pdf |download here}}.
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