White Hall

Details

TL 5458 LITTLE WILBRAHAM HIGH STREET (South Side)

17/34 White Hall

II

Farmhouse late C16 or early C17. The projecting wing to the front with a porch at ground floor and a room above is probably contemporary or perhaps a little later, about 1620. Late in the C17 or early in C18 the house was extended by the addition of a wing at the rear, probably for a kitchen. The house is timber-framed on a high brick sill, and plaster rendered, but the rear wall and one gable end were cased in yellow brick in C19. Steeply pitched roof with the pitch of the roof at the rear at a more acute angle. The tiles are C20, except for reused ones at the rear. Original ridge stack of red brick. Original three bay, lobby-entry plan. Two storeys. All the fenestration of three windows at first floor and three at ground floor is C20, and includes three-light horizontal sliding sashes. The doorway and door are, however, original. The door is typical of the period, having six panels with channelled and cyma moulded rails, stiles and muntins. The two storey porch is also timber-framed, and plaster rendered, but the brick sill is at a lower height. Tiled roof with the gable carried forward above an oriel window with a similar three-light sash window. The ends of the wallplates have original faceted pendants. The porch is open on three sides, with similar surrounds and arches to the outer and side openings. The arches have small pseudo key blocks with faceted pendant similar to those of the wall- plate, in a square head with raised panels to the spandrels. There are plain capitals to the responds of the openings at impost height. Apart from the loss of one pendant the three porch openings are intact. Inside the porch, there are low settles with shaped ends, probably original. The late C17 addition at the rear, is timber framed and soft red brick with some gault brick to the upper courses in the gable end. One wall however may be partly timber-framed and plastered. The roof is tiled and has a tumbled, parapetted gable end. There is a contemporary bread oven at the gable end. Interior: Many of the details in the house date from the early-mid C17. The room to the left hand, possibly originally the parlour has a smaller hearth which has been repaired, and original ovolo moulded main beams and stop chamfered joists. The centre room or hall has an inglenook hearth, repaired, with mid C17 oak fireplace surround of pilasters with mantel with rosette bosses to the soffit. The overmantel has four sunken panels with small flanking pilasters, a dentil cornice and a frieze enriched with foliate bosses. The dentil cornice and the panelling is carried round at the sides of the fireplace. Recently uncovered (c.1980) in a bedroom, is a C17 roundel painted with a vase fitted with roses. The roof is original and of clasped side purlin construction with paired, straight wind bracing. There is a closed truss between the hall and right hand end bay and the sequence of carpenters marks to the rafters terminates at this point. It is possible that this end of the house is an addition or that this part of the roof has been rebuilt.

R.C.H.M. Record card

Listing NGR: TL5424358447

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

50544

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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