Details
This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 14/01/2013
TQ 94 NE
11/25
17.9.52
WESTWELL
CHARING LANE
Digges Court
II*
House, formerly manor house. House on site, mentioned by Edward Hasted as being
in existence in reign of Edward III but present house retains the remains of a
late mediaeval hall-house with some C16 brickwork and 2 chimneys probably added
by Sir Dudley de Digge, Master of the Rolls to Elizabeth I, late C17 L-wing to
south west and early C19 service buildings added to north. Built of red brick
with some grey headers, partly English bond and partly Flemish bond. Old tiled
roof hipped to south west and north east and gable ended to south east with tile
hanging in gable. 2 late C16 ribbed clustered brick chimney stacks 2 storeys
and attics, cellar, L-shaped. South west wing, which is late C17, has 3 hipped
dormers, 3 wooden cross casements, wide wooden modillion eaves cornice, moulded
brick stringcourses and deep moulded brick plinth. Doorcase in angle of the L
was originally from a London town house. It is wooden with engaged Ionic
columns, round-headed doorcase with keystone and 6 flush panelled door. South
west front has early C20 brick and glazed porch. North west front is of English
bond brickwork with 2 cambered arched windows. South east wing has some C16
English bond brickwork and terminates, what was a longer medi-oval range.
Wooden cross casement facing south west. Attached to the north is an L-shaped
early C19 range of 1 storey brick and tiled service buildings with an attached
section of wall in English bond. Interior of south west wing retains dais beam
to former open hall with deep curve, roll moulding and triangular stop. Above
is truss with tie beam having 2 inch chamfer and run out stop, 2 arched braces
and kingpost and a section of wall framing is visible with curved tension
brace. South east wing has late C17 cellar with small gabled alcove, probably
for lanterns. Ground floor dining room in position of late mediaeval sola has
late C17 pine panelling with dado rail, bolection-moulded architrave to door and
bolection-moulded fireplace. Painted late C17 mantelpiece with flemish or Dutch
scene (possibly allegorical) with church, bridge with swans, house, tree with
enormous owl and figures. Hall has late C17 oak well staircase with twisted
baluster ball finials and pendants. 3 panelled door to lounge in bolection-
moulded surround with 2 late C17 Dutch style paintings of tulips, and roses, one
urn. Above is a late C17 overmantel with castle lake and man with clay pipe
fishing. Drawing room has L hinges to reverse of this 3 panelled door,
bolection-moulded pine fireplace and oak axial beam with 4 inch chamfer. Large
bedroom on 4 landing has a 2 panelled door. 1st floor bedroom, which appears to
have been the principal bedroom, has a 2 panelled door with strapwork
painted decoration, bolection-moulded door and late C17 painted overmantel
showing a hunting scene with alehouse, a man shooting pheasants and a dog
chasing a hare. The reverse of this door has an overmantel with painted scene
of timber-framed building, bridge, church and ducks on pond. Another door on
the same wall (possibly originally leading to a powder closet or dressing room)
has a late C17 painted overmantel with windmill, church with spire and man in
waders, and there is a bolection-moulded pine fireplace between the 2 doors.
2 rooms have wooden fireplaces with fragments of C17 carvings, one a flat fish,
the other a mermaid. The attic storey has 2 plank doors. Roof structure is
late C17.
Listing NGR: TQ9732447780
