Wellbrook Manor

SO 33 NE PETERCHURCH CP

10/154 Wellbrook Manor

29/9/52 I

Farmhouse. Second half C14, altered late C16, restored in 1920's. Timber- frame with wattle-and-daub infill, externally mostly replaced by rendered rubble, stone slate roof. T-plan, formerly H-plan open hall house, service wing removed and cross-passage filled by late C16 chimney stack, hall of 2 bays and cross-passage, solar wing of at least 3 framed bays, with C14 stone chimney stack on north-east wall; 1920's extensions to rear (north- west). South-east front: one storey with attics, gabled solar wing projects to right, hall range to left, entrance through porch in angle with lean-to roof. Attic lit by two 1920's gabled dormers; 3-light casement to left of entrance; solar wing has a 3-light casement above a 4-light casement. The C14 stack to the solar has an octagonal shaft of ashlar, crenellated top probably restored. Interior: hall floor inserted in late C16, with brackets attached to earlier framing, at same time as stack inserted in cross-passage and removal of service wing. Upstairs shows that there is a spere truss to south-west of hall, central base cruck truss, dais end truss of aisled con- struction. The upper roof, above aisle plate level, has 2 raking struts, cusped to the spere and base cruck. The dais truss has exposed square framing with cusped angle braces producing quatrefoils and trefoils; ogee headed door to ground floor; cusped wind braces. The solar wing is difficult to interpret, with ceiling at level of lower purlin. C14 stack has stone hood supported on decorative corbels, which have been reset 100 mm back from their original position, jambs are triangular in plan with fillet to apex. An extremely good example of a highly decorated hall house, with an original chimney stack, a rare survival. (RCHM 1, pp 214/5, no 8; Bismanis 1975, PP 32/37, pl 8; BoE, pp 270/1.)

Listing NGR: SO3508638469