Description

TL 74 SW BIRDBROOK BAYTHORNE END

3/8 Baythorne Hall
7/8/52

I

Raised aisled hall, c.1300, altered in C16 and C20. Timber framed, plastered
with frame partly exposed, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. 2-bay aisled
hall aligned NE-SW, aspect SE, with 2 contemporary 2-bay crosswings jettied
to the front. Inserted C16 axial chimney stack, and inserted C16 floor in hall.
2 rear extensions, C19/20. 2 storeys. Ground floor, central tiled gabled
porch, 2 bay windows, 2 casement windows, all C20. First floor has 2 late
C18/early C19 double-hung sash windows of 16 lights, and 2 more in large gabled
dormers. Plain windows in gables (attics unused). Exposed framing on NE
crosswing, with conspicuous curved bracing, doubled on first floor and in gable.
Elsewhere on the front elevation, some exposed framing, more mock framing.
Frame partly exposed in hall and NE crosswing. Cross-entry at SW end of hall
retains 2-centred rear doorhead plain-chamfered externally, front door blocked,
twin service doorways with 2-centred heads and jambs ovolo-moulded. Similar
parlour doorway into NE crosswing. Floor of this crosswing framed in 3 bays,
unchamfered joists jointed to transverse beams with unrefined soffit tenons,
beams supported by jowled samson posts in the side walls, independently of the
storey-posts. Crenellated and ovolo-moulded beam across full width of hall
at first-floor level, supporting aisle posts and fully integrated into frame
(once thought to be a later insertion, now recognised as original). SE arcade
complete and exposed, with 4 plain-chamfered arched arcade braces, and side
braces of similar curvature to tiebeam and principal rafter. Similar structure
apparently present in the NW arcade mostly plastered into partition walls.
Inserted early C16 ceiling in NE crosswing above first floor, consisting of
richly roll-moulded beam and joists with foliate stops. In roof of hall,
cambered tiebeam, central crownpost of octagonal section with richly moulded
cap and base, the latter of 'water-holding' form, with 4 arched braces of square
section. Roof structure complete except where interrupted by inserted chimney
stack, all timbers heavily sooted. Original plaster partition at NE end of
hall roof, with exposed bracing similar to that on front of crosswing. Both
crosswing roof structures largely intact, octagonal crownposts with simpler
mouldings but similar braces. Baythorne Hall is an early manor house of
exceptionally high quality and exceptionally good state of survival, one
of the earliest known examples of the hall house with contemporary jettied
crosswings, which later was to become a common form. (See Hewett 1980, pp.
140-1 and 301, and C.A. Hewett: The Introduction of the H-planned House, Period
Home, Sept/Oct 1980, pp. 45-7).

Listing NGR: TL7194742659

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536303

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

• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)