Description

CHAWLEIGH CHAWLEIGH
SS 71 SW
2/43 The Old Hall
GV II*
House, former rectory. Probably early-mid C16, with C17 and late C18 improvements,
and late C19 and circa 1930 extensions. Earlier part of plastered cob on rubble
footings, extensions of plastered rubble; stone rubble stacks topped with C19
brick; slate roof.
Main block facing south-west derived from still recognizable 3-room-and-through-
passage plan house with former inner room at left (north-west) end. Inner room has
projecting end stack and hall has rear lateral stack. Service end replaced in late
C18 and remodelled in C19 by 2-room crosswing projecting front and back in which
front room heated by projecting outer lateral stack (and first floor end stack),
and rear room by inner lateral stack. Probably C19 1-room block projecting at
right angles to front of upper end of hall with slightly projecting end stack.
Probably C17 2-storey porch to front of passage. Circa 1930 extensions to rear. 2
storeys.
Irregular front with main block front interrupted by gable-ended additions.
Between hall extension and porch the hall has a large full height timber 5-light
window with 2 sets of transoms. It is probably C19 but built in late C17- early
C18 style; with flat-faced mullions and internal bead mouldings. It contains
leaded panes of glass making geometric patterns. Left (inner room) end has single
late C19-early C20 window with glazing bars on each floor and hall extension has
contemporary casements on either side. End of lower end crosswing has late C19 -
early C20 casement under segmental arch to ground floor only and smaller version to
first floor of porch. To right of porch is a small C16 or C17 oak lancet with low
triangular head containing small panes of leaded glass like the hall window. Outer
arch of porch has plastered round head with simple architrave and keystone. The
outer (south-east) front of crosswing has irregular 4-window front of various late
C19 - early C20 casements with glazing bars and contemporary canted bay window
containing horned large pane sashes at right (rear) end. Roof hipped to rear.
circa 1930 casements to rear.
Interior has remarkable early-mid C16 hall still open from ground to roof. From
the passage to the hall is a fine mid C16 oak plank-and-muntin screen in which the
muntins are richly-moulded on both sides with a superior double ogee on the hall
side. The mouldings descend into the floor except for a small section in the
passage where the floor is lower and shows unusual projecting moulded bases. A
gallery jetties into this, the lower side of the hall. The balustrade is late C18
but the bressummer is mid C16. It is an oak beam of large scantling with very deep
moulding on each side of soffit (a series of hollow chamfers and roll mouldings)
with the bottom large roll carved as a wreath of ribbon and beads. C16 oak flat-
arched doorframe containing an old plank door is in front wall leading to the newel
stair and another smaller oak frame onto gallery. Hall fireplace blocked by a
massive C19 chimney piece. Restored but essentially original 3-bay roof. Trusses
appear to be A-frames but may be jointed crucks. Each truss has chamfered arch
bracing making a continuous curve from wall to wall except for a small nick at the
apex giving the impression of an ogee arch. Each bay has single sets of
windbraces. In inner room fireplace is blocked by C19 grate. Both soffit-
chamfered crossbeams have pyramid stops, probably C16. Roof here is inaccessible.
Lower side of passage has small C16 oak flat-arched doorway. Wide passage contains
C18 stairs with slender turned balusters. Rear room of service end crosswing has
plain-chamfered crossbeam, maybe older than the other late C19 features exposed in
the crosswing. Roof here was not inspected. Other features are C19 and C20, but
earlier features may be hidden in the main block.
The Old Hall is remarkable in that the late medieval hall is still open to the
original roof. The exposed C16 work is of good craftsmanship. It is possible that
original plaster survives and care should be taken during any alterations to the
C16 fabric to see whether C16 mural paintings survive. Shown as The Old Rectory on
O.S.

Listing NGR: SS7126212626

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17548072

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

• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair