Walls, Towers And Gateway Enclosing Whitacre Hall

The walls, towers, and gateway enclosing Whitacre Hall are likely a remodelling from the early 16th century of an earlier medieval site, with the gateway dating to around 1600. The structure features walls and towers made of coursed sandstone rubble, while the gateway is constructed from red brick and topped with a plain tile roof. The rectangular site is surrounded by a moat, and the walls serve as a revetment to the inner bank, rising approximately 3 feet above ground level.

Each corner of the enclosure, except for the north-east, has a square open-backed tower. These towers have a chamfered plinth and a small rectangular loop on each side. Originally, all towers were capped with brick crenellations, but only the south-east tower retains its well-preserved caps. The gateway is located at the centre of the south side and features a round-headed entrance arch with an ovolo-moulded surround, set within a square-headed recess that also has ovolo and ogee-moulded surrounds. The recess includes a timber lintel with ovolo-moulding and a shaped gable above, which once had a finial; the base for this finial remains. The gate is nail-studded and has an opening for a wicker gate.

At the rear of the gateway is a timber-framed gable, where the tie beam displays ogee- and ovolo-mouldings along with a carved trail of oak leaves. The panels above the gable feature quatrefoil shapes and oak leaf motifs. On either side of the gatehouse are ornamental loops.