Sodylt Old Hall

SJ 34 SW; 1/80

ELLESMERE RURAL C.P., Sodylt Old Hall

27.05.53

GV

II*

Farmhouse. C15 remodelled and extended late C16 with later additions and alterations. Timber-framed, partly of cruck construction, with red brick infill and rebuilding; slate roof. Original plan an open-hall house of at least three framed bays, floored over and cross-wings added in late C16. One storey and attic to hall range, two storeys to cross-wings. Framing: i cross-wings, jettied to gables and first floor to front, have two square and rectangular panels to each floor and raking struts to principal rafters; plain chamfered bressumers with carved corner brackets. Left cross-wing (wider than right) also has four square and rectangular panels from cill to tie beam and queen-strut truss to rear. Blade of true cruck truss with collar and tie beam visible to rear left corner of hall range. Late C19 three-light casements to each floor of cross-wings with similar window to timber framed gabled eaves dormer between. Plank door under C19 gabled hood directly below with narrow segmental-headed windows to either side. Small C19 segmental-headed window to continuation of hall range to right of right cross-wing. Red brick ridge stack in two sections immediately to right of right cross-wing and prominent extruded external lateral stack with bands and two detached diagonal shafts to left of left cross-wing. Full-length C18 red brick catslide outshut to rear of hall range and C19 red brick lean-to attached to right of right cross-wing.

INTERIOR. Has two true cruck trusses, right with chamfered stepping and mortice for arch-braced collar visible to front suggesting that it may have been the centre truss to the open hall. Truss to left is of closed queen-strut type and first floor of room to left again (which has cruck-end truss) is on different level to other rooms, suggesting that this bay was floored over at a different date to rest of hall range. Chamfered ceiling beams with variety of late C16 stops throughout to ground floor including chamfered cross-beam ceiling in centre room of hall range. This has square and rectangular oak panelling to left wall (wall below queen-strut truss). Ground-floor room of left cross-wing is completely oak-panelled (square and rectangular panels) including to fireplace surround which has inset panelled wall cupboard to right. Late C19 or early C20 staircase in left room of hall range has carved splat balusters in late C17 style. Section of plank and muntin panelling reused in first-floor ceiling immediately to left of right cruck truss, which has original purlins and straight wind brace. Chamfered ceiling beams to right cross-wing on first floor. Stone-walled cellar below left room of hall range and possibly reused curved principals in outshut. Several C17 panelled and plank doors.

Listing NGR: SJ3448040627