More information : [ST 53110039] Hooke Court [GT]
Moat [GT] (1)
Hooke Court: The house is of three storeys with cellars.
According to Coker, Humphrey Stafford built the house c.1407.
and this date may apply to the E. wing.
In the 16thc. the house belonged to the Staffords, passing to
the Paulets in 1609 about which time Wm. Paulet probably built
the S. part of the S. wing.
Damaged by fire in the Civil War and middle part of S wing
probably reconstructed about this date. N. part of wing seems
18thc.
Extensively altered and modernised in 18thc. and later.
Moat: The W. and part of N sides have been filled in. The N.
arm closely skirted the 15thc. wing (2)
[Similar information] (2)
Objects found in the moat of Hooke Court, and given by Sir
Thos. and Lady Salt:-
Dagger of the type called "Misericord" - its date is about 1400
AD. Acc. No. 1944. 23.1.
Key of Md. pattern. Acc. No. 1944. 23.2. (2-4)
The building is known as St Francis School, Hooke Court (a).
A well preserved substantial stone building with comparatively
modern extensions in the East wing and North wing.
The Western part of the East wing shows traces of blocked in
windows and doors.
The south wing has several mullioned windows - See GP
The Moat has been partially filled in recently in the North and
a modern swimming bath of concrete has been built into the
southern arm. The moat has, in general, been defaced by
gardening.
The building is used as a school for boys. (5)
"Hooke Court" retains a number of 17th century features.
The moat has been further infilled. OS 1:2500 survey revised. (6)
20/2 II Hooke Court Rough ashlar and slated. 3s. W, front has
three-light windows; those of N. half have lights with
four-centred heads, those of S. half have elliptical heads. N.
wall has buttresses and other traces of mediaeval work. Stone
fireplace with Paulet arms. N.W. wing C.15. S.W. wing C.17.
Modern additions. Much modernised interior. (7)
The East wing was demolished c. 1965, leaving only the 17th
century South Wing. The only remaining 15th century work is the
perpendicular canopy-work built into the south wall. (8)
(No change from Auth 5 regarding the condition of the moat). (9)
The former south and east sides of the moat are occupied by a derelictswimming pool in the former and an ornamental pool in the latter. Theenclosed area (the position of the modern buildings) is raised -
forming an island c. 2m above the presumed water level. Photographs
contained within the school, and taken at the turn of the century;
indicate the existence of an internal 'step' - sandwiched between the
moat and the raised internal platform. This was used as a garden
walk.
Immediately south of the southern arm of the moat, there are formal
garden earthworks. This again takes the form of a 'walkway'; in this
case at a lower level than the island and running at an east - west
orientation. A leat-like feature (possibly of some antiquity) employsthe line of the path. At its south end a rectangular pool has been
constructed. Within this pool, an island is evident. Early
photographs show that access to the island was gained by a causeway on the east side of the pool. This feature is an ideal location for an earlier fishpond.
The house, Hooke Court, remains as described but is now known as and
named St Francis School. (10)
Hooke Court. Grade II*. (11)
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