56
West Stow Hall

The gatehouse and Hall were built by the last abbot of Bury St Edmunds about 1520. There was probably a moated house already on the site and some of the timbers in the Hall predate the 16th century. The colonnade linking the gatehouse and main house was built by the Croft family, who bought the Hall on the dissolution of the monasteries, in 1540. The Hall gatehouse has terracotta figures as finials and contains a 16th century wall painting of the Four Ages of Man. The coat of arms of Queen Mary of France, Henry VIII's sister, is displayed above the entrance. She later became Duchess of Suffolk.

The main house consists of two large timber frames joined by iron ties. The front downstairs rooms are very heavily timbered with some side uprights rising through the house to the roof. They may have been re-sited from the earlier medieval manor house that stood on the site. Certainly they are older than the 16th century. The lounge has one of the largest inglenooks in Suffolk. The rear frame includes a great reception hall, heavily carved beams and interesting detail. It is said to date from the early 16th century but again there is some evidence that the frame predates the gatehouse. The house originally extended northwards across the lawn and into what is now woodland.

The house was partially faced in brick in the 1840s by the Rev. Beynon, the wealthiest clergyman in England. His builder complained that the house was full of voids, which are indeed still there.

The Hall is surrounded by well-designed and interesting gardens, woodland and an orchard.

Tour two to two and a half hours, £14 including tea, coffee and biscuits on arrival; 11 am tours followed by ploughman's lunch; pm tours by cream tea.
www.weststowhall.com

To book, call the Mercury Theatre on 01206 573948
or book on-line at www.mercurytheatre.co.uk. 

Other nearby properties:

Ousden House
Chippenham Park

Back to location map