67 Church Street

67 Church Street was once in the area known as Hanover Square and previously St. Helen’s Street.

It has been suggested that the property was built as part of, or at least the same time as, no. 66 next door but both buildings have been modified and it is difficult to confirm a build date in the 16th century and it could have been built up against 66 as late as the 18th century.

67 has a wider frontage than 66 but in common with that property underwent some major development in the 18th century when the first floor roof was raised and a third storey added. The stack and winder staircase is situated in the centre of the front range at no. 67, just behind the large axial beam, which creates a smaller space behind the stack.

The construction of 67 Church Street shows signs of timber reuse which makes the original structure difficult to date and further research is needed to work out the order of things.

It is difficult to link names with the property prior to the 1850s because St. Helen’s Street and Hanover Square were densely populated and the houses were not numbered.

In the 1861 census we find Richard and Martha Green and their three children living there. Richard is a fisherman and Martha was born in Ireland.

In 1871 Robin and Harriet Barrett were living at 67 Church Street with their two children, a lodger and a servant. Robin is a mariner.

In 1881 the main part of the house is occupied by William Pratchett, a steam crane driver, his wife, Elizabeth and their two children but they also have two boarders. The house is subdivided and another part is occupied by Abraham and Louisa Mills, their two children and a boarder.

In 1891 we find David and Charlotte Jennings living at the house with their four children and four lodgers.

In 1901 we once again have two families living at 67 Church Street. George and Ellen Chambers and their four children lived in one part of the house whilst Robert and Ellen Martin lived in another with their two children. George Chambers was a general labourer but Robert Martin was a journeyman tailor working from home. The census tells us that the Chambers occupied three rooms within the house but it must have been very cramped.

In 1911 we find Harry and Annie Gilbert living in the house with their two children. Harry and his younger son Herbert are “quay labourers” whilst elder son Harry is a cook on a steamship. The census records that the Gilberts live in four rooms within the house but, as previously, another family, the Meckiffs, are living in three rooms. The Meckiff family consists of Thomas and Lena and their young children Harry, Herbert and Frederick. Like Harry Gilbert Thomas Meckiff is a quay labourer.

Thus, like 66 Church Street, we see that 67 is host to working families throughout the Victorian and Edwardian eras – being subdivided and sub-let to provide as much accommodation as possible in the busy seaport of Harwich.

67 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 the buildings by Brenda and Elphin Watkin is available for download here.