The property we see today is not the original building which once stood on this site.
The first building was used as the Bures Hamlet Workhouse as recorded in the Parish records

1709 Glebe Terrier:- "one small cottage in the Hamlet near the mansion of Herbert Pelham, Gent worth about £3 per year"
NOTE:- Herbert Pelham lived at Ferriers

1729 Glebe Terrier:-"one small cottage in the Hamlet near the mansion of Herbert Pelham, Gent worth about £3 per year.
All which cottages are inhabited by the Poor at the discretion of the Churchwardens and Overseers"
NOTE:- this again would haave been near Ferriers

1784 Glebe Terrier:- Bures Hamlet hath a Workhouse for the poor, with about a "rood" of ground adjoining to it worth about 30s per annum near Mr Gurdon (note 1), late Mr Pelhams.
NOTE: seemingly refers to a property in Station Hill.
In 1784 it only recorded 9 residents.

In 1838, John Garrad (note 2) purchased the property from the Sudbury Union for the sum of £200 to be used as a private residence.
See Bill of sale below

The original Workhouse was subsequently demolished by the end of the year and replaced with the fine building we see today.

It stood closer to the road than its successor, however the entire site is completely empty on the Bures Hamlet 1839 tithe map.

Interesting to note that this property was once again used for public use during the 1st World War.
"It is remembered that there was an outbreak of diphtheria during the "'14-18" war, the White House, which was standing empty at the time, was cleaned through in twenty four hours and patients brought in. The then Vicar's wife, Mrs. Molesworth, who had been trained as a nurse took charge of the temporary hospital.
Ref:- The History of Bures 1951

Oct 1917
Serious outbreak of Diptheria within 2 days
3 lives were lost. The White House turned into an Isolation Hospital on November 1st
Mrs Molesworth, wife of the Vicar was appointed Matron
In less than 36 hours, three patients were able to be recieved

There were 8 wards and 28 patients at anyone time
January 1918, the epidemic was over and the Hopsital closed
Ref: Mrs Tatum, Mount Bures

Bill of Sale for the Workhouse which was eventually sold for £200

The Gurdon and Garrard family both had an interest in the White House and Secretaries directly opposite

Note 1:- The Gurdon family can be traced back to the 1500`s and were small clothiers and landowners of Dedham, Essex,. The Gurdon’s purchased Assington Hall from Sir Richard Corbet
Rev. Philip Gurdon, vicar of Bures St. Mary and rector of Mount Bures. circa 1680 -1740
We also have The Hon Amy Harriott Gurdon (1864–1944) living at Ropers Hall

Note 2:- The Garrad family were well-to-do farmers and tanners in Bures and neighbourhood throughout the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.
They owned substantial land in Bures, Mount Bures and the surrounding countryside. They were also involved with the Maltings, Brickmaking as well as owning boats at Colchester.
They owned Brook House, Secretaries and the White House opposite in Station Hill

John Garrad (1730 -1788),
Tanner, inherited the Tannery from Edward Garrard. Lived in Secretaries previously owned by the Gurdon family.