Clayton Hall

Clayton Hall is the surviving remains of a manor house, now divided into two dwellings. The core of the building probably dates to the 15th century, with significant alterations made in the 16th and 17th centuries, followed by partial rebuilding or enlargement in the 18th century. Further restoration occurred around 1900 and in the 20th century. The building is constructed of red brick, with some timber framing, and has stone slate roofs. It has a linear plan, extending along a north-south axis, divided into two distinct sections. The earlier, southern half consists of two bays and a single-depth, plus a front corridor. The later section to the left is double-depth and double-fronted. It is two storeys high, with a facade of 3 windows plus 3 windows. The original southern portion features square-panelled timber framing on the first floor, likely formerly jettied, although the ground floor has been rebuilt in brick. It includes a short, gabled stair turret positioned to the right of centre, topped with a bellcote. The ground floor has a simple doorway to the left, and a two-light casement window next to it. The upper floor has three mullioned windows with diamond-pattern leaded glazing: a five-light window in the gable, a four-light window to the left, and a three-light window to the right. A jettied gable is supported by a kingpost and raked struts. A large external chimney stack of squared sandstone blocks, with a brick finish at the top, is located on the right-hand gable wall. The later portion, to the left, is constructed of hand-made brick in English garden wall bond, with stone quoins. It has a segmental-headed doorway offset slightly left of centre, with a quoined stone surround. C19 diamond-paned casement windows are present, with three lights to the left, four to the right, and four, two, and five lights at the first floor. Raised stone sills and rectangular stone lintels feature on these windows, with a brick label above the central first-floor window. Rainwater heads dated 1900 are also present, along with two ridge chimneys. At the rear, the southern portion showcases small-panelled timber framing on both floors, and a nearly continuous run of wooden mullioned windows, likely insertions and recently restored. Inside the southern portion are small-framed partition walls of high quality, with substantial timbers. These include an unusual longitudinal partition creating a front corridor and a lateral partition with doorways that have nicked Tudor-arched lintels, including two blocked doorways at the first floor level of the partition. Massive wallplates are present, with traces of former wallposts and studs over the windows; massive arch braces support the tie-beams. A rectangular stone fireplace is found in the south gable wall, with a chamfered lintel, now blocked. The hall forms a group with a bridge over a moat to the south.