Moat House

Description

This information is taken from the statutory List as it was in 2001 and may not be up to date.

BRENTWOOD

TQ59SE LONDON ROAD, South Weald 723-1/8/288 (South side) 21/10/58 Moat House

II*

House now hotel. Early C16, late C16, late C17, C19, C20. Timber-framed (exposed), hipped peg-tiled roof. Rectangular plan with rear continuous C19 out-shut and major additions of C19 and C20 to sides and rear not included in this listing. EXTERIOR: 2 storey and attics. Chimneys at E and W ends. Front, N, elevation complex as a result of late C16 infilling, with a continuous jetty, between early C16 projecting cross-wings of an `H' hall house. Jetty has an applied early C19 Greek key design and the eaves has an C18 cornice. Facade can be considered as (1) cross-wings and (2) central range. (1), E cross-wing has jowled corner posts and close studding with stud braces, ground floor arched to centre with early C19 canted bay window in original aperture with cornice and casement windows with glazing bars, 2x2, 2x4, 2x2 panes. First floor, C20 2-light casement with upper light and diamond lattice panes, deeper than original aperture. W cross-wing has unjowled corner posts and stud bracing. Ground floor, early C19 canted bay window, larger than original aperture, (stud posts moved out), glazing bars, 1x4, 2x4, 2x4, 1x4 panes. First floor C20 2-light casement window with top-light diamond lattice panes, narrower and deeper than original aperture. (2) Central range, ground floor, E-W 3-light, frieze ovolo mullioned window restored with diamond lattice, C19 canted bay sash window with cornice, glazing bars, 2x4, 2x4, 2x4 panes, two 2-light frieze windows, restored with diamond lattice, C20 door on cross passage site, boarded within a `Tudor' frame. First floor studding, particularly close with serpentine bracing. E-W 3-light ovolo mullioned frieze window, restored with diamond lattice, C20 4-light casement window with 2 top lights set within original aperture, having joints exposed for an oriel window on a deep sill, 2-light restored ovolo mullioned window with diamond lattice, evidence of redundant joints for a second oriel window, C20 2-light casement window with top light diamond lattice pane. Above, 2 restored dormer windows with simple gabled roof, peg-tiled, 2 and 3-light lattice panes. Rear, S elevation, principal house with hipped ends, cross-wing with gable end stack at W end and 3-shafted stack on E end, shafts set diagonally, (rebuilt). Large lateral stack to hall in English bond, double walled, crow stepped and embattled at top, rebuilt rectangular stack rises above. To E tile-hung stair tower rising through roof to attic level with hipped peg-tiled roof and C20 2-light casement with top light, diamond lattice panes. 2 casement dormer windows with hipped, peg-tiled roofs at either end of lower `catslide' roof, continuous with out-shut, W dormer, glazing bars, 2-light, 3x5 panes, E dormer, 3-light 3x5 panes. To W, C20 S extension built immediately after 1939-45 war in red brick with stone dressings to windows and `Gothic' door, wheel window on S gable end. Interior constructed with genuine C16 joists and door frames (some members inverted) C19 linen-fold panelling and relief plastered ceiling panels. This block not to be included in the listing. The whole rear central range has a C20 verandah lean-to continuing round on SE side of a court. Two C19 iron casement windows remain in the rear wall of the rear out-shut. W end elevation, cross-wing with rendered stack with two C19 rebuilt diagonal shafts. C18 timber-framed lean-to with exposed framing set round stack. To S C20 4-light diamond lattice window, above, early C20 2-light casement with rectangular leaded panes in coloured glass, mock timber surround, to W brick, colourwashed unit, yellow brick stack above. Ground floor, C20 3-light casement, diamond leaded lights. To S, brick unit with C20 lean-to porch, peg-tiled roof, C20 flush double doors. E end elevation obscured by C19 and C20 addition, not to be included in this listing. INTERIOR: considerably re-built, but some original features remain. All ceiling joists of ground-floor hall central range moulded, at cross passage end with step-stopped chamfers. High end cross wall of hall has a display brace and doorway with jambs moulded on cross-wing side. Ground-floor fireplace of hall lateral stack rebuilt. First floor, original 4-centred arch fireplace with ovolo-moulded chamfer and high stop. All other fireplaces rebuilt. First-floor framing shows elements of contruction. 2-bayed W cross-wing has central moulded arched brace to tie-beam. Tension brace on hall flank wall, rear bay has evidence of mullioned window on S outer wall. Roof detail, W cross-wing earliest, C16, central 4-way braced crown post, square with square fillets to each face and broach stops to base, carpenters' marks. Collar purlin with stopped chamfers. Also plain rear gable crown post with foot bracing. Front crown-post removed and collar purlin cut short to create integral hipped roof, probable in C18. Centre range and E cross-wing have side purlin roofs, wind braces remain in cross-wing. HISTORICAL NOTE: the building was surrounded by a moat, now dry and fragmentary. It is said to have been the residence of Henry Roper, Gentleman Pursuivant to Queen Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII is said to have been a frequent visitor to the house. If so, this equates with the first phase, but not the very enriched phase which dates from the reign of Queen Elizabeth. (RCHM: Central and SW Essex : South Weald : Monument 4).

Listing NGR: TQ6117295281

Content

This is part of the Series: IOE01/0131 IOE Records taken by David Batterbury; within the Collection: IOE01 Images Of England

Rights

© Mr David Batterbury. Source: Historic England Archive

This photograph was taken for the Images of England project