NHER 15331 (Building record) - Old Hall Farm, Forncett

Old Hall Farmhouse, Low Road, Forncett St Mary.

October 1979. Visit.
Described by member of the public [1] as late 16th century timber framed house with early 17th century wing containing a good staircase with turned ballusters and two plaster ceilings (quoted in (S1)). None of this is apparent from exterior as house is clad in 19th century brick, though there is a triple chimney of 16th/17th century type on south gable. In west wall against road are two upper windows with carved wooden mullions and transoms, apparently 17th century. One huge window of this type also, presumably the staircase window (if not, a weaving window?).
North of house 19th century farm buildings connect with another timber framed cottage.
Note - northern end of this complex is now a museum of engineering with huge steam engines standing under sheds. For this section see NHER 41720.
Marked as Forncett Great House on (S2).
E. Rose (NAU), 3 October 1979.

(S3) shows manor house as to south on site NHER 29838, with only a 'vacant messuage' on this site. As the map is based on a survey of 1568, is this correct or is this building the manor house?
E. Rose (NLA), 9 July 1993.

This is incorrect; the site is shown as a built bond messuage, not vacant and this is almost certainly correct, see (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 17 May 2005.

(S4) in file discusses the building but comes to no firm conclusions beyond suggesting three periods - 16th century, 17th century and Regency.
E. Rose (NLA), 30 April 2005.

2005.
Detailed examination showed that the west wall is mostly of 17th century brick, not 19th century but the windows are recent. Building may indeed consist of a 16th century timber framed wing with grand 17th century parlour wing, but it might all be of the latter period . Small east extension of about 1700. Grand Regency remodelling and extensions. See (S5) in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 17 May 2005.