NHER 1883 (Building record) - Stiffkey Old Hall, Church Street

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Summary

Standing in eight acres of gardens near the church (NHER 1887), this is a remarkable flint, brick and stone house, dating from 1576 onwards, with additions and alterations in the 17th century (the gatehouse is dated 1640) and 18th century, and restorations in the 20th and early 21st centuries. The hall was built on the site of earlier halls for Sir Nathaniel Bacon, with financial (and possibly design) help from his father Sir Nicholas. It was originally intended to be a four-sided building symmetrically placed around a courtyard, but some parts were never built and others were later demolished. Of the U-shaped structure that stood originally, the west or kitchen range and part of the hall range survive, having distinctive round towers at the northeast, northwest and southwest angles. After several changes of hands in the last hundred years or so, the house is currently being restored.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TF94SE
Civil Parish STIFFKEY, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

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Around 1575, perhaps incorporating medieval predecessor. Gatehouse 1604.
Part demolished and part never built. Walled garden once containing cross from elsewhere.
See report (S1) and plans in file. Listed (S2).
E. Rose (NLA), 7 June 1982

History and plans (S3) prepared for owners by unknown person in file.

12 July 1994. NLA air photography.
House and garden visible.
H. Clare (NLA), 22 February 2001.

For detailed analysis, including that there was an earlier building on the site but the author does not believe anything survives of it, see reference (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 4 February 2003.

Photographs (S5) of buttresses on north garden wall, to be demolished, in file.
E. Rose (NLA), 2 September 2003.

(S6) is a very useful reference which gives several other references as footnotes. Press cuttings (S7) to (S9) in file.
E. Rose (NLA),

April 2008.
Several proposed alterations, including the re-opening and glazing of an existing brick archway between the main roof and the NE tower, the insertion of an oak framed window and the reinstatement of the cellar.
See (S10) for more information
H. White (NLA) 12 December 2008

(S11) Country Life article from 1916 added to file. First page only available.
A. Yardy (HES), 16 August 2011.

July 2005. Planning Application.
An application was received to re-instate the ruined garden structure.
See (S15) for further details.
Z. Dack (HES), 26 July 2012.

  • --- Aerial Photograph: Edwards, D.A. (NLA). 1994. TF 9742M - Q.
  • --- Aerial Photograph: TF9742 A-J,K,L.
  • --- Article in Serial: Bradfer-Lawrence, H. L. 1929. Stiffkey alias Stewkey. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XXIII, pp 308-340. p 308.
  • --- Article in Serial: Jones, H. 1879. Stiffkey: A Sketch. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VIII pp 143-166.
  • --- Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
  • --- Designation: English Heritage. 1990-2013. English Heritage Listing Notification. Notification. DNF6202.
  • --- Drawing: Various. Various. Architectural plans.
  • --- Monograph: Pevsner, N. and Wilson, B. 1997. Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 676-677.
  • --- Photograph: Unknown. 2003. [unknown].
  • --- Publication: Willins, E.P. (ed. By Thos. Garratt). 1890. Some Old Halls and Manor Houses in the County of Norfolk.. Pl 44, Pl 45, Pl 46.
  • --- Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Post-Medieval. Stiffkey.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Unpublished Document: 2011. Planning Application.
  • <S1> Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1985. Building Report.. Building Report.
  • <S10> Unpublished Document: Cowper Griffith. 2008. Design and Access Statement, Stiffkey Old Hall.
  • <S11> Article in Serial: 1916. Stiffkey Old Hall, Norfolk. Country Life.
  • <S2> Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
  • <S3> Unpublished Document: 1996. A Potted History of Stiffkey Old Hall.
  • <S4> Article in Monograph: Smith, H.. 2002. Concept and Compromise.. East Anglia's History. Harper-Bill, C.. pp 159-187.
  • <S5> Photograph: Various.
  • <S6> Article in Monograph: Smith, H.. 1994. The Gardens of Sir Nicholas and Sir Francis Bacon.. Religion, Culture and Society in early Modern Britain.. Fletcher, A. & Roberts, P.. pp 155-159.
  • <S7> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1997. [Photograph of Stiffkey Old Hall]. 16 September.
  • <S8> Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2000-2001. [Articles and sale advisements for Stiffkey Old Hall].
  • <S9> Newspaper Article: Dereham and Fakenham Times. 2003. Decision day for historic hall plans. 22 May.

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Record last edited

Jul 4 2018 3:43PM

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