NHER 60039 (Building record) - Hales Hall

Although now known as Hales Hall this building was originally a gatehouse range that formed part of the outer court of the actual hall. The hall itself was built in the late 15th century and lay to the west, on the site of a medieval moated hall (NHER 1053). Previously recorded under NHER 1053.

September 1951. Listed Grade I.
Listing Description excerpt:
"Remains of Country house, late 15th century. Very long brick gatehouse range with blue diapering. The east end was probably originally timber framed on the first floor but later brick faced to match. Steep pantile roof with parapeted gable ends. Two storeys and attic."
Information from (S1). Noted in (S2).
Please consult the National Heritage List for England (S1) for the current listing details.
P. Watkins (HES), 8 March 2017. Amended by J. Cullis (HES), 22 January 2020.

1978. Field Observation.
Site visited by E. Rose.
Main two-storey north range containing the gatehouse has diaper brickwork, with many blocked windows to south, one brick-mullioned one surviving. The gatehouse has two interior recesses and a timber-framed portion above on south side. At west end single storey extension is later, because the diaperwork and blocked windows of the gable are visible inside, but its brickwork is identical and it cannot be more than 30 years later. Interior of this range has original timbering and hearthstone. Ornamented chimneys.
Information from file notes for NHER 1053 (S3). Also see photograph (S4).
P. Watkins (HES), 8 March 2017. Amended by A. Beckham (HES), 6 January 2020.

2013. Dendrochronological Survey.
Analysis of core samples taken from various timbers within the hall gatehouse range, barn (NHER 60040) and bothy (NHER 60041) at Hales Hall.
Interpretation of the 74 dated samples suggests that the original hall range and the barn were both probably constructed in the AD 1490s, although it also incorporates a few possibly slightly earlier timbers. The extant roofs of the east and middle sections of the hall range and the east end ground- and first-floor ceilings date to the mid AD 1590s, although these also incorporate a few potentially slightly earlier timbers. These elements therefore appear to be broadly contemporary with the bothy, the original part of which was also found to date to the mid AD 1590s.
See report (S5) for further details.
P. Watkins (HES), 22 August 2019.