Description

COMBS BILDESTON ROAD
TM 05 SW

5/63 Moat Hall (formerly
listed as Moat Farmhouse)
9.12.55

- II

Former farmhouse. Circa 1400, with alterations of c,1500, c.1600 and c.1970.
An open-hall house with a partly later-medieval cross-wing at the left hand
end. 2 storeys, and one storey with attics. Timber-framed and plastered,
with C20 herringbone pargetting in panels. Thatched roofs, with C20 casement
dormers. The cross-wing has a pair of cusped late C15 oak bargeboards on the
west gable, removed c.1970 from the east gable (the house originally faced
east). Axial chimneys: in the hall range is a mid C19 chimney of gault brick
with 4 diagonally-set square flues on a sawtooth-banded base; a C19 axial
chimney of red brick in the wing. Plastic casements of late C20, with leaded
lights. A thatched gabled C20 entrance porch with boarded door. High quality
C15 carpentry: the 2-bay open hall has a central truss, without its tie-beam,
but retaining the octagonal c.1400 type crownpost with moulded capital and
thick 4-way braces. Close-studding without visible windbracing. The roof is
heavily smoke-encrusted. The parlour cell to right is original but altered,
once having had a hipped roof. The hall has evidence for a rear cross-passage
doorway with a 2-centred arched head. The cross-wing is of two 2-bays
sections: the projecting part is apparently of c.1400 and contemporary with
the hall, it was open and heavily smoke-encrusted, with a central crownpost
truss, the crownpost being octagonal and with 2-way braces. The rebuilt
section has a 2-bay solar with an open truss, the octagonal crownpost being
well moulded in the late C15 manner (English Vernacular Houses: Mercer:
HOM.S.O., Plate 56). An upper floor was inserted in the hall in late C16,
with plain framing, and a chimney with back-to-back open fireplaces to hall
and parlour. Major refurbishing of c.1970 following a period of dereliction;
at this time a dogleg staircase taken from a demolished inn at Stowmarket was
inserted into the hall; it has turned balusters and moulded newel finials of
c.1600. A large wing of c.1980 on the east side is not of special interest.
The house stands within a medieval moat. N.M.R photographs.

Listing NGR: TM0207054744

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26573030

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

• 
  Georgian Style and Design for Contemporary Living
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas