Moat House

Details

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: TQ5787292896

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

373494

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
An Inventory of Essex Central and South West, (1921)

End of official list entry

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