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====== 6 Church Street ======

No. 6 Church Street, like many houses in Harwich, is a bit of an enigma. It has some reused elements from an ancient building but is probably a complete 19th century rebuild on the site of an earlier house, making use of the original cellar. Whilst that might sound relatively straightforward there are strong signs of commercial use and some 20th century changes, including two rear extensions, to take into account.

The building fronts onto Church Street in a prime position near to St. Nicholas Church and is of three storeys in its frontage range, which is typically Georgian in rendered brick with parapet and sash windows. The front is almost symmetric with central entrance and the window openings above the front door on first and second floors are blind, with no internal opening. The left hand window on the ground floor is broader than the others with size large panes – generally found in commercial applications.

When the house was built this bit of Church Street, south of the church, was called Hanover Square, and previously St. Helens Street. When the old church was pulled down and the new one built in 1821 and 1822 it probably made Hanover Square less of an enclave and it was later assimilated into Church Street.

The cellars and reused timber we see today suggest that an Elizabethan house was pulled down at around the same time as the old church and a new three story property built on its substantial cellars. The property has then been divided and modified to suit changing times but retains some nice features from the different periods.

===== Occupants =====

We can take an educated guess that the 19th century rebuilder of the house at 6 Hanover Square, later known as 6 Church Street, is Francis Stevens. Francis came from a family of Harwich businessmen but as Francis was a common forename in the family we have to  be specific and say our target Francis was born in 1789 and was elected a Capital Burgess of the town in March 1833. 

In 1841 we catch up with Francis Stevens, his wife Sarah, daughter Marianna and servant Ann Draper living at 6 Hanover Square. Francis is simply recorded as “merchant”.

In 1851 Francis and Sarah Stevens are still at no. 6 but Francis is now listed as “Magistrate, Coal Merchant”. Mary Harvey from nearby Dovercourt is now the live-in domestic servant. Two months after the census was taken in 1851 Sarah Stevens died.

Francis Stevens died in 1854 and we find out about 6 Hanover Square and its contents in an advert in the the Ipswich Journal on Saturday 18th November 1854:
//HARWICH. To be SOLD by AUCTION, Bv Mr. HALES, On Thursday, 23rd November, 1854, and following day, THE HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE AND EFFECTS. Of Mr. FRANCIS STEVENS, deceased, at his late Residence, Hanover Square, Harwich; COMPRISING six excellent feather beds, bolsters, and pillows; mattresses. 4-post, coachtop, and iron bedsteads; dining, card, loo, and Pembroke tables; mahogany horsehair seated, cane seated, Windsor. lounge, easy, and other chairs; Chiffonniers, washboard and toilet tables, Wainscot Wardrobe, pier and dressing glasses. iron, brass, and other fenders, double and single mahogany chests of drawers, carpets, hearth rugs, excellent 8-day clock, wheel barometer. spring sofa, together with culinary and kitchen requisites. All which will be expressed in Catalogues, to be obtained at the place of Sale, and of the Auctioneer, Harwich. The Goods can be viewed the day preceding the Sale, from 11 o'clock a.m. until 4 p.m. Sale to commence punctually each day at 11 o'clock.//

In 1861 no. 6 (noted as “Church Street late Hanover Square) is occupied by Willian Nunn, his daughter Marian and granddaughter Julia Barmby. William is a Retired Cooper, Marian is a School Mistress and Julia is listed as a “Solicitor’s Daughter”. They are looked after by housekeeper Sarah Porter and laundress Ann Frances.

In 1866 we find the freehold of 6 Church Street up for auction, advertised in the Ipswich Journal on Saturday 24th February:
//HARWICH, ESSEX. VALUABLE FREEHOLD HOUSE PROPERTY, AT HARWICH - Mr. HALES & Mr. P. COTTINGHAM Have been favoured with instructions from the Trustees of the Will of FRANCIS STEVENS, Esq., dec., to SELL by AUCTION, on Thursday, 1st March, 1866, at the Three Cups Hotel, Harwich, at Two for Three o'clock in the Afternoon, in Eight Lots:
Lot 7. All that Brick-built and Stuccoed MESSUAGE or DWELLING-HOUSE, situate and being No. 6, Hanover Square, or Church Street. In the occupation of Miss Nunn, commanding an unobstructed view of the Harbour; and comprising entrance passage, 3 parlours, 2 kitchens, 2 pantries, and cellar; 3 upper chambers. 3 middle chambers, and sitting room; spacious enclosed paved yard and small garden, pump to salt water well, and 2 rainbacks. And a Right of Way into West Street. Landlord's Fixtures included in the purchase. Annual rent, £30.//

This tells us that the trustees of Francis Stevens have been letting the house as estate income since his death in 1854 and have now decided to sell the freehold with a sitting tenant.

Although we don’t know the identity of the new freeholder in 1871 we do find “Miss Nunn”, Mary Ann Nunn to be precise, still resident at 6 Church Street. Mary Ann is probably the Marian in the 1861 census and we also find Julia Barmby as a visitor on the night of the census. Mary Ann is now listed as a Lodging House Keeper and the house has two single lodgers and a family of lodgers resident.

In 1875 we find the property being sold by the chancery in the case of Waights v. Burton and advertised in the Ipswich Journal on Saturday 23rd January:
//[IN CHANCERY.] WAIGHTS v. BURTON. FREEHOLD PROPERTIES, HARWICH To be SOLD by AUCTION, By JOHN FOX, At the Cups Hotel, Harwich, on Wednesday, the 17th day of February, 1875, at Four for Five o'clock in the Afternoon, with the approbation of the Vice-Chancellor Hall, Lot 1. A FREEHOLD DWELLING-HOUSE and PREMISES, No. 6, Hanover Square, Harwich, in the occupation of Mrs. Nunn, as yearly tenant, at the rent of £30.//

In 1881 everything has changed and we find the house divided into four parts with eleven people in residence. Labourer John Neale, his wife Rosa and their son John William are in one part of the house and they have painter George Cann living with them as a lodger. Elsewhere we find mariner’s wife Annie Bird and her two children and in another part Margaret Ashford, another mariner’s wife is living on her own. Finally we have labourer George Wright, his wife Maria and their daughter Mary Ann.

In 1891 the house is only divided into two for a total of ten people. William Desmond is originally from Ireland but his wife Mary is from Harwich and their two daughters were born in the town. William is listed as “Outdoor Officer HM Customs”. In another part of the house Alice Meachen is living with her three children and father-in-law Rudram Meachen who is aged 70 and a retired mariner. The Meachens also have a lodger, Emily Olver, a school mistress.

In 1901 it is all change again and the house is occupied by Ebenezer Bentley, his wife Harriett and two children. Ebenezer is a Sergeant Major in the Royal Garrison Artillery and the house is listed as “Volunteer Armoury”. It is perhaps strange that 6 Church Street went from a house of multiple occupation to a British Army recruitment centre for the Boer War.

In 1911 we find the house divided back into two parts with two families in residence. In one part George Mattin, a 55 year old blacksmith, is living with his Lucy and daughter Ethel Rose. In the other part of the house we find Frank Miles, a Leading Signalman in the Royal Navy, his wife Florence and their young daughter.

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

The building at 6 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 6 Church Street by Brenda and Elphin Watkin is available for {{ :6_church_street_building_survey.pdf |download here}}.
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