Description

GREAfGADDESDEN LEIGHTON BUZZARD ROAD(A4146)
TL 00 NW
(West side)
Water End
5/112 Gaddesden Hall
22.10.52

- II*

Manor house. S wing has late medieval crosswing and hall range rebuilt
in last quarter of C16 with flint walling, large rear chimneys and stair
tower, probably for Martha Jermyn. Attic storey created and stair
heightened in late C17, porch removed and crosswing altered for new
entrance in C20. E wing a separate hall and crosswing house in C17 when
hall floored over, brick cased and extended to N in C20. Originally all
timber framed but now S wing of uncoursed flint with brick dressings,
and E wing cased in C20 red brick. Steep old red tile roofs. A large,
irregular L-shaped house facing N, with 2-storeys and attics S range
entered by lower gabled E crosswing. Adjoining E range has small gable
marking the former hall and N crosswing adjoining E side of crosswing of
S range. The gabled C20 N end of the E range has a window on each floor
and a 3-shafts external chimney. 2 2-light casement windows to each
floor of S range, on the ground floor deeper with transoms. Battened
door up 3 steps with side lights, label, and window over. Tall 2-shafts
chimney on front wall to RH of door. 2-storeys gabled porch formerly at
RH end of N front of S range shown on Buckler dwg of 1832 in HRO. Large
C16 chimney stack projects from rear of S range with 3 diagonally set
square shafts and plinth course which continues round stair tower
projecting to E of it with corbelled course marking its original height
and gabled top part added in C17 with 2 similar chimney shafts in its E
wall serving the crosswing. Interior has timber framing exposed in E
wing, chamfered beams, and fine 4-centred arched stone moulded C16
fireplaces in S range hall, and more elaborate with vine-scroll
spandrels and roll-mouldings in S range parlour. Early C18 panelled
entrance hall with fielded panels and corner fireplace. E wing has
double-ovolo moulded ceiling beam, serpentine splat balustrade to
staircase, and evidence of heightening. Main roof of 3-bays with clasped
purlins and convex-curved wind-braces. This was the manor-house of the
manor of Southall (a sub-manor of Great Gaddesden) first recorded in
1200. Originally called Southall, then Oliver's Place after Robert
Oliver who held it in 1448, but Gaddesden Hall since C17. A farmhouse up
to 1914. (VCH (1908)203-4: RCHM (1911)101: Pevsner (1977)151: Bryant
(1982) I, 5-6: RCHM Typescript).

Listing NGR: TL0430409597

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Gaddesden Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17542505

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  For the Record