More information : [TM 14174951] Claydon Hall on site of [T.I.] CASTLE
[GT] (1)
Claydon Hall, now a farmhouse, is said to have been built on the site of an ancient castle. Part of the moat which surrounded the original building remains. (2)
Homestead moat. (3)
Claydon Hall is a large farmhouse of probably 16th c. date, with later additions and alterations. The owners were aware that it supposedly occupies the site of a castle but were unable to offer any confirmatory evidence. The homestead moat which surrounds the house is in a poor condition generally, only the south arm and a fragment of the north arm remaining wet; the west arm has been filled in but is quite distinct, the east arm, also filled in, has been incorporated into the gardens of the house.
Published survey (25" 1926) revised. (4)
House, formerly manor house. Mid C14 core with major alterations of early C17and later. 2 storeys and attics. Timber-framed and plastered, partly encased in C19 painted brick; the early C17 parlour wing at left has some C18 herringbone pargetting. Plaintiled roofs; the parlour wing has an oversailing
gable tie-beam and bargeboards, both billet-carved, with moulded pendant finials. An axial C17 chimney of red brick, of cross-quadrate form and another plain C17 chimney to right. Mainly mid C19 small-pane sashes. Glazed mid C19 6-panelled entrance door, recessed between Tuscan columns supporting a moulded cornice. The centre range of the house has a mid C14 crown-post roof of two 2.5 metre bays, with evidence for a 3rd. Two open trusses have octagonal crown-posts with scroll-moulded capitals, and straight braces originally on 4 sides. A closed truss has a corresponding semi-octagonal crownpost, and on what was originally the external gable is a section of early or original weather-boarding (a rare feature on a mediaeval building of this
status). Little is left below roof level of C14 work, but there is some evidence that the upper floor is original. The smoke-blackening at roof level therefore implies the existence of an upper room with an open hearth. Crosswings were added at either end of this range in the early C17, and staircase and garderobe-towers to the rear. To right is a short C18 service range and to left a C18 single-storey range in painted brick. The house stands within an incomplete homestead moat of C14 or earlier. The manor was held in the mid C14 by William de Cleydon (ante 1327) and by his son John (d.1350). The site is reputed to have formerly been occupied by a castle (East Anglian Miscallany, No.5632). Grade II. (5) |