History

Originated as a large sub-medieval timber-framed storeyed house. Extended in brick in the late C16/early C17, re-fashioned in C18 when it became a farmhouse, and extended again in the C19. Like Mulsford Hall this is said to have been built as a dower house for the Puleston's of Emral Hall. Recent restoration work has revealed more of the surviving sub-medieval fabric.

Exterior

Brown brick, partially rendered, two-storeys plus attic, under slate roof. H-plan with C19 two-storey extension to rear. Large brick stacks. Main elevation rendered and with two curvilinear gables of unequal proportions. Old photographs show gables previously had carved decoration. Painting of 1793 shows that the late C16/early C17 brick house had three Flemish crow-stepped gables (two paired to the right of the elevation) since when frontage has been re-fenestrated with leaded, timber casements. Window over door bricked-up, and one wing to right demolished, including stack. Rear elevation of three storeys with three gables and projecting two-storey C19 extension from middle bay with single-storey lean-to. Gables defined by dentilated brick band in manner of similiar local houses (eg Bedwell Hall, Sesswick, and Hem House, Rossett). Further brick band between ground and first floor of facade; ground floor windows have brick hood-moulds.

Interior

Front door opens into hall with fireplace to left under large bressummer; wide oak floor boards. To the right, the original doorway to the timber-framed house is set within square framed partition wall. H-hinges to cupboard door to left of fireplace in sitting room. Most doors throughout the house are of ledged boarded type and some have wooden latches. The timber-framed rear wall of the hall retains large three-light mullion and transom window indicating that this was formerly the outside wall of the early house. Fine, full-height, C17 dog-leg staircase with moulded rail, square moulded newels with pierced finials and pendants, pierced balusters and closed strings with carved patterns (different to each flight) with pierced finials and pendants; also decorative arcading to the risers. To the first floor is a further three-light mullion and transom window from an outside wall of the early house. Glass to window at western end of passage bears scratched names and dates eg "John Boot 1808", "Ethan Jones 1775", etc. One bedroom retains its C18 plaster cornice to the ceiling and encased beam, together with moulded fire-surround. To the attic storey the queen-post struts of the gable ends of the sub-medieval house are clearly visible.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* as a manorial house of sub-medieval origin retaining a fine interior.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17744589

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 Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)