Moat House

The Moat House is a late 16th and early 17th century farmhouse, now a house, located in Prees, Shropshire. It has undergone later additions and alterations. The building is timber framed with rendered infill and a machine tile roof. The original hall range consists of two unequal framed bays, with a slightly later two-bay gabled cross-wing projecting to the right. A section of the hall range was formerly extended to the left but was truncated and rebuilt in the late 20th century. The house is one storey and attic. The timber framing features square and rectangular panels, with three panels from cill to wall-plate, short straight tension braces, and V-shaped struts from collars to the cross-wing. A prominent gabled jettied dormer to the hall range has diagonal struts, a cusped quatrefoil above the bressumer, and V-struts from the collar. The fenestration is irregular, with late 20th century leaded mullion and casement windows intended to replicate the originals. These include a five-light window to the dormer, two casements directly below, and another casement to the hall range's far right. The cross-wing gable has one window on each floor. A mullioned and transomed window to the rear dormer of the hall range is likely partly original but has been much restored. The entrance is through a late 20th century gabled rendered porch to the left of the hall range. A French window is situated to the left wall of the cross-wing. A red brick ridge stack is located to the left of the hall range, and an integral lateral stack with a dentilled band is on the right wall of the cross-wing. A 20th century gabled porch to the back wall of the hall range includes a datestone reading "H/RS/ 1702," which is believed to have originally been in the back wall and may relate to the re-cladding or rebuilding of that wall in brick. Inside, the timber frame is exposed with visible wattle and daub infill. Ground-floor rooms have moulded and chamfered ceiling beams and heavy joists. The fireplaces are rebuilt with red brick and segmental arches, and plank and muntin doors are throughout. The single-purlin collar and tie beam roofs of both the hall range and the cross-wing feature exposed trusses and straight windbraces. The house is set within a well-preserved but now dry square-shaped moat.