Mill Hall

Details

SO 86 SE NORTH CLAINES CP PORTER'S MILL

4/67 Mill Hall (formerly listed as Porter's Mill)

25.12.52 GV II*

Shown on OS Map as the Manor House. House. Probably mid-C16 with mid-C19 and early and mid-C20 alterations and additions. Timber-framed, painted brick and rendered wattle-and-daub infill, sandstone rubble plinth, plain tiled roof and 5 grouped, brick, star-shaped ridge stacks to left of centre. Four framed bays on a west/east axis with through-passage above lower east end bay. Two storeys and attic. Framing: irregular; mainly 5 square panels from sill to wall-plate, long straight braces in lower corners, attic at east gable end is jettied on a moulded bressummer and curved brackets; collar and tie-beam trusses with queen struts in gable ends; west gable end has 3 collars and a V-strut in apex, east gable end has 2 collars. South front elevation: scattered fenestration, windows have plank weatherings; ground floor has a 3-light and two tall 2- light casements, and on the first floor are two 2-light and two 3-light casements; mid-C20 gabled, timber-framed porch and part-glazed door to right of centre; C16 studded door with wrought iron hinges at left end with coat of arms on panel above. Attic lights in gable ends. West gable end: there are two 3- light casements on the first floor in which some late C161/early Cl7 lattices of glass quarries have been retained; a panel in the gable apex bears the date "1503". Interior: roof has two pairs of trenched purlins; lower end trusses have arch-braced collars with V-struts in apex, upper end tie-beam truss has queen struts, two collars and a V-strut in the apex. The hall fire- place is surmounted by plasterwork displaying the Royal coat of arms encircled by the garter and flanked by Tudor roses and the initials "E R". The attic room at the upper end of the house has an early Cl7 plaster ceiling, recently repaired, and decorated with fleur-de-lys, fruit, crowns; a mermaid etc; the walls are oak panelled and above the panelling are plaster lion's heads; the fireplace has a carved overmantel, an elaborate mid-Victorian cast iron fire- place and on the hearth are set a collection of C15 tiles; the C16 door into the room has a Tudor-arched doorhead. Two rooms on the first floor have plaster ceilings decorated with a vine leaf frieze. Mid-Cl7 open well staircase with spiral balusters, ball finials on newel posts and moulded handrail. Main beams are stop-chamfered; several C16 doors are retained. Mid-C19 and early and mid- C20, two-storey extensions at rear. The house was built for John Porter, an important clergyman, and it is believed that on August 14th 1578, Queen Elizabeth I stayed at the house whilst visiting the Bishop of Worcester. The house retains many good interior features dating from the Elizabethan period to the mid-C17.

Listing NGR: SO8611060402

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

147961

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.