NHER 9233 (Building record) - Old Hall

Ordnance Survey antiquity.
Moated long building, timber wattle and daub encased in brick and roughcast by present owners but replacing similar cladding.

November 1976. Visited.
Two storeyed porch has Perpendicular entrance arch with colonettes and similar blank arches in side walls, suggesting late 15th or early 16th century date. On west side a blocked circular window has the date 1729 on the blocking, and a sun fire insurance plaque. A porch here with stepped gable in modern brick is presumably modern, as are the slit and circular windows around it (inserted in last 45 years). Tiled roof, renewed at north end; shaped ends of beams protrude under eaves. One upper window on east contains two coats of arms in stained glass. House is said by owners to contain forty doors, which seems incredible. Poor condition. Moat exists on south and east side of house but enclosing larger area suggesting earlier date: about 51cm (20 inches) wide by 13cm (5 inches) deep, dry and full of nettles, bushes etc. No trace of it on west.
E. Rose (NAU), 17 November 1976.

Crenellated wallplate and rollmoulded beams in kitchen. See (S1).
E. Rose (NAU).

July 1994.
Owner adds that the stained glass plaque referred to above depicts two pairs of two coats of arms, and that this commemorates a marriage.
D. Gurney (NLA) 13 July 1994.

August 1994.
Coats of arms in stained glass noted above are of Sir Robert Drury and Ann Calthorpe, and William Cocket and Dorothy Brampton. Drawings of these in large drawings drawer, with family tree showing relationship.
D. Gurney (NLA) 11 August 1994.

1997.
(S1) notes structure like base of a chimney lying just to northeast of house and moat.
E. Rose (NLA), 17 July 1997.

Moat water filled, maximum. 5 to 6m wide, fringed by small trees/scrub. South arm shows partial brick revetment on inner side. Possible earthworks noted in field to east.
H. Paterson (A&E), 22 March 1999.

April 2004.
Detailed investigation when building under restoration reveals a very complex history. Part is an elaborate parlour block of about 1520, probably a conversion of one end of an existing house of the 15th century. Latter section has an original first floor corridor.
See (S2) in file.
See also (S5).
E. Rose (NLA), 14 April 2004.

(S3) in file suggests a very different history, as one building of the 16th century with a first floor manorial court, and inserted stack of the 17th century.
E. Rose (NLA), 30 April 2005.

August 2005. Building recording.
The moated Old Hall is probably the manor house of Plasset or Plassinghall manor, which took the name from William de Plasy who was tenant of the property during the reign of Edward I (1273 - 1307).
See (S4) and plans in secondary file.
S. Howard (NLA), 26 December 2009.