Monument Type(s):

• GATEHOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1540 AD) + Sci.Date
• FARMHOUSE (17th century to Late 19th century - 1600 AD to 1899 AD)

Summary

The stone gatehouse of Aston Eyre Hall (PRN 00601) was converted to a farmhouse in the 16th/ 17th century (possibly representing the point at which the main house was abandoned), and now, with its later additions, comprises Hall Farm. It is protected by Grade II* Listing.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA4960 - 1995 Evaluation of Aston Eyre Old Hall in advance of building conversion by UBAS
• ESA6107 - 1997 Geophysical survey at Aston Eyre Hall by GSB Prospection for Time Team
• ESA6268 - 2008 Architectural and archaeological analysis at Aston Eyre Hall by Richard Morriss
• ESA7253 - 1997 Trial trenching, architectural assessment and topographic survey at Aston Eyre Hall by Time Team

Description

House, formerly in part gatehouse, c1300 and C17-C19.
Coursed rubble stone, timber frame with rendered infill and red brick in part rendered. Plaintile roof with brick ridge, end and lateral stacks, two of which are of stone below flues. Complex plan with wings to left and rear. The main range was originally the gatehouse to the former hall (QV barns to west of Hall Farm House), and is of 3 storeys. 2-window range of 2- light casements. Double-leaved part-glazed door to left within gabled open porch with window over. Both these are within the brick and stone walling which blocks the wide slightly pointed arch of the original gateway which retains the large blocks to jambs and voussoir. Single-light casement and further 2-light just below eaves level. Massive quoins. 2-storey brick wing to left, C18 and earlier, with C19 square bay and pentice and 2-light casement over. C19 sashes and casements on twin-span extension of single storey and loft. To rear are a C19 wing and a C17 wing of timber framing in square panels. 2 storeys and attic. Further single storey extensions. Rear of main range has 1st floor single-light stone-framed window and a similar window on the gable behind the apple room where below are the remains of probably a stone spiral stair. Interior: both gateway arches remain, that to front with 3 iron spindles for the gates to swing on. To left a stone cellar with remnant of spiral stair. Massive chamfered beam to sitting room above. Ogee-stop- chamfered beams to rear wing where also massive open fireplace visible in room to right of entrance and above are possible remains of spiral stair together with doorway which is now entrance to apple room <1>
The stone gatehouse at Aston Eyre survives intact. This important structure was converted to a farmhouse in the 16th/ 17th century (possibly representing the point at which the main house was abandoned), and now, with its later additions, comprises Hall Farm. The entrance archway is visible on the exterior, with a second stone arch preserved inside the farmhouse. Against the north external wall is the scar of the perimeter wall, which probably ran along the inside of the moat (in a similar arrangement to that found at Stokesay Castle) <3>

Geophysical survey of land around Aston Eyre Hall Farm in June 1997 as part of a wider archaeological investigation being undertaken as part of the Time Team series for Channel Four television. The nature of the ground conditions during the survey meant that the geophysical results contributed little to the overall archaeological works. The survey failed to find any clear evidence of a moat ditch or the original road to the gatehouse although, it was later considered by the Time team that the site may not have had a moat. <4>

A detailed external and internal architectural and archaeological analysis was undertaken at Aston Eyre Old Hall (PRN00601) , in connection with proposals to restore the buildings to residential use. It was concluded that in the early post-medieval period the status of the site declined and the Gatehouse was extended as the main dwelling and farmhouse, the hall being relegated to agricultural use. Dendrochronological analysis of timbers in the gatehouse extension gave a consistent felling date of 1596-1616, which is remarkably consistent with the felling date of the winter of 1612-1613 for the adjacent timber framed barn. This evidence indicates a major campaign of improvements on the site in the early 17th century. There is no obvious evidence of any domestic upgrading of the Hall from the mid 15th century onwards, and it seems highly likely the hall complex was converted into agricultural buildings, although no significant alterations are evident until the 18th century. <5>

A programme of historic building was undertaken on Aston Eyre Hall (PRN 00601) by the RCHME in 1988, comprising a brief external and internal survey. Includes a brief description of the gatehouse range. <6>

Correspondance related to the Time Team programme, filmed in June 1997 includes a sketch plan created as a composite from resources consulted as part of the background to the programme (seemingly by Mark Horton and Tim Taylor). The excavation was apparently focused on the line of the demolished oriel which had previously been exposed in a 1995 evaluation to the east of the N end of the solar block (ESA 4960), the site of a possible garderobe to the west of the N end of the solar block, and within the courtyard between the gatehouse and the hall PRN 00601). A programme of dendrochronology, together with architectural analysis and rectified photography was undertaken in the gatehouse, in the solar of the hall and in the listed barn (PRN 17380). The suggested dendrochronological date for the gatehouse is 1341-52. Medieval masonry was seen in a number of trenches, but little further information is available. <7>

Please note: no formal report has been compiled for the Time Team excavations at this site to date and therefore only limited details are available on the investigations. <8>

Dendrochronological dating was carried out in 1997 as part of the Time Team programme. The felling date for timber in the gatehouse was 1341-1352. Timber from the extension to the gatehouse was dated to 1596-1616. ->

-> The stone-built gatehouse was adapted to serve as the farmhouse presumably when the hall was relegated to farm-building status. Within the gatehouse the two large gateways remain and the estimated felling date range of 1341-52 was obtained from first and second-floor joists. The gatehouse was extended by a box-framed unit in 1596-1616. <9>

The solar was approached from a large oriel window at the dais end of the hall and then via a spiral staircase. The oriel window occupied the full height of the building and probably had a chamber at the upper level. The remains appear to be of the C14, and features like the oriel window in the hall and the tall pointed-arched window in the solar wing with its moulded frame and traceried head must have represented the last word in taste and elegance. 2 external and 1 internal photographs. <10>

Sources

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