The Hall

The Hall is a small country house of exceptional historical importance, located on Church Lane in the Parish of Somersal Herbert.

The building dates from the early 16th century, with a construction date of 1564 recorded on a wooden plaque formerly displayed above the front door. It was partly encased in brick during the early 18th century and underwent restoration in 1899. The structure features timber framing with lath and plaster infill, red brick casing to parts of the elevation, and a plain tile roof with brick ridge and gable stacks. It comprises two storeys with attics and has an irregular plan and north elevation.

The right-hand section represents the earliest phase, with close-studded timber framing incorporating a middle rail to each floor. The ground floor displays three 2-light and one 3-light ovolo mullioned windows on either side of a timber-framed porch of 1899, which has openings on each side fitted with turned balusters. The first floor features three wooden cross windows on either side of a 3-light window. The eaves are coved, with a broad gable to the right decorated with double curved braces and containing a 2-light window. A large twin-gabled dormer to the right has a 2-light window and box framing ornamented with decorative quatrefoil motifs.

The left-hand section has a broad gabled bay with box framing incorporating diagonal bracing and quatrefoil motifs in the gable. Two 3-light windows occupy the ground floor and two 2-light windows above, flanking a smaller 5-light window. The gable contains a 2-light window. Most windows were replaced in 1899 with casements in 17th and 18th century style featuring square or diamond leaded lights. Exposed timber framing extends across one bay of the west elevation.

Early 18th century brick casing covers the right-hand bay of the west elevation and the entire south elevation. The south elevation displays four gabled bays. The first and second floor feature continuous bands to the left section. The leftmost bay contains two wooden cross windows to each floor beneath gauged brick arches, with 2-light windows in the gable. The second bay has a blocked window and a 19th century round-arched doorway at ground floor, a similar blocked window and cross window above, and a 2-light gable window. The third recessed bay features double doors and a 3-light mullioned and transomed window, both beneath wooden lintels, at ground floor level, with two 2-light windows above. The right-hand bay contains three wooden cross windows at ground floor, one similar window above, and a 3-light window in the gable. An additional bay to the right has a 3-light stone mullioned window at ground floor and a glazing bar sash above. A gabled bay to the east retains exposed timber framing and a blocked 3-light window of 17th century date. A late 19th century wing extends to the north east but is not of listable quality.

Internally, the building displays extensive exposed timber framing and stud partitions. Beams are mostly unmoulded except for one finely moulded beam in the kitchen. The entrance hall contains re-used Jacobean panelling partly of 19th century date, with chamfered beams visible. The drawing room features a late 16th century style stone chimney piece. A wooden plaque, said to have come from above the front door, bears the inscription "ANNO DNI/1564 IHON/FYTS HER/BERT HYS/WYFE IHS".

The main staircase, constructed around a square well with closed string and turned balusters, dates to approximately 1660 but has been substantially altered in the 19th century. A back staircase of circa 1660 retains robust splat balusters to the first floor landing. The bedroom over the hall contains early 18th century raised and fielded panelling with double cornice. A bedroom at the north west corner preserves a small amount of late 17th century panelling, re-set and restored. The bedroom at the south west corner features early 17th century staggered panelling and curved frieze. To the east, the junction of two originally separate buildings remains internally visible, marked by two walls positioned side by side with approximately two feet between them. The south east bedroom contains an early 18th century bolection-moulded wooden chimney piece with overmantel and cornice. A further bedroom includes a built-in cupboard constructed from curved late 16th century fragments. In the roof space, a formerly external gable retains a 3-light mullioned window.