Description

TAMWORTH

SK2003NW LICHFIELD STREET
670-1/8/110 (South side)
11/05/50 The Moat House

GV II*

House, now restaurant. c1572 with C18 refenestration and C19
and C20 additions. Brick, some ashlar dressings; tile roof
with brick stacks. Elizabethan style. H-plan. 2 storeys with
attic; symmetrical 8-window range; ends project under gables
with C20 single-storey infill between. All gables are
crow-stepped. Entrance has bolection-moulded architrave,
armorial panel and gable with ball finial. 5 windows to ground
floor centre have 12-pane sashes; ends each have 2 windows
with 12-pane sashes under drip course, those to left end with
thick glazing bars; 1st floor has 6 windows have dripstones
over 12-pane sashes with thick glazing bars, ends have
Venetian windows with similar sashes; attic has 3 gabled
dormer windows, these and end gables have 6-pane sashes.
Several C19 multi-shafted stacks with blue brick enrichment;
inner returns have end stacks to gablets. Left end has 3-stage
tower, the top stage reconstructed in C19, with ashlar
embattled parapet and 2-light double-chamfered mullion windows
under dripstones. To left, a C19 service wing with similar
details; gable over 4-light transomed ground floor and 3-light
1st floor window and attic light. Right return has lean-to
outshut with 2 gablets and 2 gabled dormers. Rear has 2 gables
to left and one gable to right of recess with C19 gabled wing
with C20 infill to left; C16 windows mostly double-chamfered
mullions; left end obscured by ivy, sashed windows; stair wing
to left of recess has C16 cross-mullioned windows; right end
has two 3-light windows to ground floor, casement replacing
sash to 1st floor; all attic windows have 2- or 3-light
windows with small-paned casements. C19 kitchen court to right
end with embattled parapet to wall.
INTERIOR: some Tudor-headed doors to ground floor;
segmental-headed recess has C17 panelling; fireplace has Tudor
arch with enriched spandrels in architrave with frieze and
cornice; open-well staircase has square newels with pendants
and ball finials, strapwork panels and moulded handrail; top
landing has splat balusters (as at Tamworth Castle q.v.); 1st
floor has long room with C16 plaster ceiling with square and
oval panels with armorial bearings or birds with grapes and
Tudor-arched fireplace has architrave with fluted frieze and
cornice. The house was owned by the Comberford family, who
entertained Charles I while Prince of Wales. One of Tamworth's
oldest and most interesting buildings.
(Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Staffordshire: London:
1974-: P.279).

Listing NGR: SK2022303960

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Moat House at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q15253974

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)