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Summary

15th or 16th century gatehouse on bridge over the moat; remodelled in the 1870s, possibly with re-used timbers from elsewhere

Monument Types

• GATEHOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Events

• Tree-ring analysis of timbers at Pirton Grange gatehouse, Pirton, 2011
• Building assessment of Pirton Grange gatehouse, 2011

Protected Status

• Listed Building (II*) 1/179
• SHINE: Pirton Grange, Medieval Moated Site
• Scheduled Ancient Monument 11568: PIRTON GRANGE MOATED ENCLOSURE AND ASSOCIATED SETTLING POND, PIRTON

Full description

A small, square, 2-storey gatehouse to Pirton Grange [11187]; built in the 16th or early 17th century. It faces east and has a wide east entrance with narrow architrave and 18th century panelled double gates pierced by a wicket gate. Timber frame on recessed battered brick bridge structure over the moat [1927]. The structure is roughcast at front with impressed decoration, exposed timbers on sides, similar at rear with pattern of chevron infill between studs. It has a steep old red tile roof and small 2-lights casement window over. The carriageway entrance is off-centre to the south with enclosed stair to upper floor on north side. Supports for a former drawbridge over the moat were reputedly found during dredging c.1880 <1>.
Put on the Buildings at Risk Register in 2001 <1, 4>; the gatehouse has structural problems and the external finishes are in poor condition.
Tree-ring analysis of the timbers was unable to establish any date; some of the timbers are elm, not oak, and many timbers are later inserts <3>.
<5> gives the sparse documentary record and historic photographs. Assessment of the structure in 2011 found close studding in the south wall, suggesting a 15th or 16th century date for its construction. It was remodelled on the same plan in the later 19th century, probably c.1879 at the same time as the house (by the architect T C Sorby), and it is possible that 'a number of the timbers and other fixtures dating from the 17th century were re-used from elsewhere' <5>.

Air Photo Services, 1995, House and moated site, Pirton Grange, PNO 8267 (Aerial Photograph). SHT15506.

Air Photo Services, 1995, House and moated site, Pirton Grange, PNO 8268 (Aerial Photograph). SHT15507.

<1> Listed Buildings description (Digital archive). SHT6690.

<2> English Heritage, Buildings at Risk East of England Regional Register, 2001-7 (Bibliographic reference). SHT3345.

<3> Bridge, Martin, 2011, Pirton Grange, Shillington Road, Pirton, Herts: tree-ring analysis of timber from the gatehouse, RNO 2688 (Report). SHT1325.

<4> Historic England, Heritage at Risk Register <www.historicengland.org.uk/har>, 2008-11 (Digital archive). SHT6041.

<5> Phillips, Mark, & Blancheflower, Jane, 2011, Pirton Grange gatehouse, Pirton, Hertfordshire: historic building assessment and documentary research, RNO 2955 (Report). SHT7148.

Sources and further reading

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