NHER 1656 (Building record) - Docking Hall

7 June 1979. Visit.
Docking Hall.
Built in about 1618 and partially rebuilt in 1858.
Originally an E shaped house, the owners claim it was built in 1612 which would fit well.
All that is now visible of the original work is some of the brickwork of the north front, and the chimneystack on the west gable, brick on flint, supporting two octagonal chimneys (restored).
The front of the porch tower and of the northeast wing are of the mid 19th century; the northwest wing had a bay window added which has now been removed.
A bay on the south has also been removed, but all of the south front and the gables over the four recessed bays on the north front, seem to be 19th century.
Many groups of octagonal chimneys, all restored.
All this 19th century work is probably of the 1850s (rainheads in the stable court are dated 1857) and is by Ewan Christian, according to [1], which would fit it as the Christian family owned the hall, later changing their name to Hare.
(S1) states that the hall was partly rebuilt in 1874 as well.
All interiors are Victorian though huge original beams found in repairs under floors.
See (S2) and (S3).

At southeast corner of house on lawn is half of a medieval tomb effigy, head under Gothic canopy, one hand holding staff or crozier, the other holds a possible mitre on chest.
14th century?
On top of this an octagonal font with quatrefoils, and nearby a pillar base.
These were brought from North Farm (0.5 miles north).
Owner thinks they may have originally come from North Creake Abbey.

Kept in hall are a Bronze Age socketed axe (NHER 12928); lead ?font fragment (NHER 13207), chipped Neolithic flint axehead, broken, and other small Neolithic flints from unknown local sites.
E. Rose (NAU) 7 June 1979.