West Barn cottages, showing the former workhouse, with the brew house and buttery. This property is not condemned but partly used.
From A Study of the Strood by W.E. Duane. Chapter 8.

West Barn Cottages, more commonly known as Workhouse Cottages, were situated to the east off the top of Waldegraves Lane, down a track that becomes a footpath to Rewsalls. The cottages are on the north side of the track and are still there, much changed. West Barn itself was another 100 yards down the track and was on the south side of the straight line of the track. The barn fell down several years ago, but its site is still visible on the satellite view. The barn belonged to Jack Lord when I was a lad and I think the last person to use it was Len Rampling to garage his JCB.

The view is looking northeast and the house just visible through the gap is probably Bocking Hall on the main road. During the War, my Auntie Kate was living in the left hand end of the cottages with her brother William 'Grimpy' Green. She had a family and became Mrs Pullen. Mrs Parkin was living in the right hand end. The Green family was in the cottages going back a long way and Abraham Green probably lived there all his life. Kate and William Green were his children. [Ron Green]

Workhouse Cottages - Sue Howlett says of them:
probably erected following the Workhouse Test Act of 1723
Strood Church Lands Charity Feoffees' Account Book 1730-1847 includes Schedule of Fixtures and Fittings in West Mersea Workhouse (ERO D/Q 1/3)
Essex Charities book page 432 for Church and Strood Lands charity describes the land owned by the charity and says "Two houses have been built out of savings of income on the above premises, one has been used as a workhouse and for this the overseer pays a rent of £20. SOS_008_004 .
Date: 1965