NHER 7663 (Building record) - Little Hautbois Hall

November 2004. Visit.
Remarkable building. Bears Victorian date of 1555 on 19th century porch but source of this not known; however, exterior of main block is of Elizabethan appearance. Original porch moved to rear. Interior is of very strange plan with reused medieval stairs set in staircase between two one sided chimneys; vance floor above attic supported on giant knee braces. Yet interior detailing is more 17th than 16th. Attached later kitchen wing may be associated with date of 1607 on a garden wall; was building uncompleted until this date, or suffer a fire? Kitchen wing also has the kneebraces. Building passed to Norwich city fathers in 1700 and the vance may have been removed and the roofs reformed at this time. Large late extensions shown in paintings of about 1840 removed during a later 19th century restoration.
See (S1) (S2) and (S3) in file. See also (S4).
E. Rose (NLA), 9 November 2004.

November 2004.
Further visit brought about suggestion that kitchen wing may stand on site of earlier hall to which main building was added.
See appendix to (S1).
E. Rose (NLA), 26 November 2004.

April 2005-May 2006. Building Survey.
Historic Building Record. Photographs and plans recorded while the building was undergoing extensive structural repairs to the kitchen wing and various repairs elsewhere.
See reports (S5) and (S6) for further details.
J. Allen (NLA), 1 June 2007.

August 2013. Inspection
Undergoing new works which include the removal of modern wall in kitchen and the possible re-opening of kichen great hearth and re-introduction of the original porch entrance. See illustrated report (S7) and (S8) for Willins' engravings.
S.Heywood (HES), 4 September 2013.