NHER 7854 (Building record) - Drayton Lodge

January 1952. Listed, Grade II*.
See (S1).

April 1978. Field Observation.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU):
Shepherd's Castle on Bryant's map of 1826 (S2).
Rectangular ruined building with round tower at each corner. Pink brick (surprisingly called yellow in (S3) and (S4), and this followed by (S5)). Dated by Barnes in (S3) to soon before 1437. Destroyed by rioters in 1465 according to (S6).
South-west tower formerly had staircase, now all gone; northeast tower has brick arch across, southeast tower cracked through. Two floors; joist holes marking division, except one in south wall set midway between floors, with two windows - another staircase? All windows small, like loopholes. Large fireplace in west wall with chimney shaft, latter knocked out into a doorway when made into warreners lodge. Whittingham (in (S3)) claims redder bricks and squared flint facing plinth are contemporary with building, but they seem very like the 18th century. Brick used on this doorway. South wall, the most complete.
W. Taylor, Norwich Antiquary in 18th century, in his poem reproduced in (S4), refers to a vaulted roof, but if this is not poetic licence it has all gone now. Interior overgrown; exterior walls have many iron loops over them suggesting ivy once trained. Traces of plastering inside. In poor condition - bricks very powdery.
Stands in grounds of 'Tudorbethan' nurses' home of 1914, but originally prominent on an open ridge.
See also (S7).
Compiled by E. Rose (NAU), 27 April 1978. Information from record cards (S8).
Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 July 2026.

Listing (S1) suggests darker red bricks are 16th-century patching, taking a middle view!
E. Rose (NAU), 29 November 1984. Information from record card (S8).

(S9) suggests the building may have been an early experiment to make white bricks, as analysis shows the bricks are mainly chalk and earth, not clay.
E. Rose (NLA), 3 August 1998.

Listing Description excerpt:
"Ruined 'plaisance' early 15th century of soft pale red brick. Rectangular plan, formerly of two storeys, with drum towers at the corners. English bond brickwork, patched on north and south faces, at the base with 16th-century brick. Slit windows in drums, with arches over internal splayed reveals. Springing of former arched entrances from drums to interior. Central door opening in south wall with 4 centred arch with window opening to its west. 3 slit windows above, all with splayed internal reveals. Remains of fireplace and tapered flue above in west wall, now containing later doorway. Seating for transverse first floor beam in south wall. Some small amounts of plaster remain...Graded II* for early brickwork…"
Information from (S1), which should be consulted for the full, current Listing Description.
H. Mellor (HES), 26 June 2017.

April 2021. Watching Brief.
Monitoring of groundworks undertaken as part of a programme of conservation and repair work.
Excavations within the central opening of the western wall exposed the sub-surface continuation of this wall. A possible return at right-angles to the wall was also noted, above which a more recent brick structure had been constructed (presumably to prevent the collapse of the opening). The original, 15th-century wall appeared to be constructed directly on the subsoil, with no foundation deposits or construction cut noted.
Clearance excavations around the perimeter of the structure were relatively shallow and did not reach the base of the walls.
See report (S10) for further details.
An archive associated with this work has been deposited with Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2021.141).
P. Watkins (HES), 20 July 2026.