Great Codham Hall

The house at Great Codham Hall dates back to the early 14th century, with significant alterations and extensions in the 16th, early 17th, and 18th centuries. It is timber framed and built with plastered walls, covered by a roof of handmade red clay tiles. Originally a 3-bay crosswing facing northwest, the house has been expanded by 16th and early 17th century crosswings to the rear, and a further 18th century extension to the rear, resulting in an approximately square plan with internal stacks.

The front elevation has a 7-window range of 20th century sash windows, each of 4 lights. A central 6-panel door is located within a 20th century porch featuring pedimented detailing and pilasters, with double half-glazed doors. Parts of the front elevation project forward on both the left and right sides. The building is topped with a plain parapet and hipped roofs. The southeast elevation incorporates two 2-storey bows, each with 3 windows on each floor. The ground floor features 19th and 20th century sashes, with 8 windows of 6+9 lights, and a central full-height sash window of 6+12 lights. The first floor has 6 windows of 6+6 lights and a central Venetian window.

Inside, the house features jowled posts and a late 16th century inserted stack at the left end of the 14th century wing, notable for its moulded and carved mantel beam. Moulded and carved ceiling beams are also present. A four-centred door head with carved spandrels provides access to the two-bay 16th century front range. The roof is constructed with coupled rafters, using mortise and tenon joints for the collars and soulaces. One crown post is missing from the heavily cambered front (north) tie beam, which has a bowtell moulding with a hollow chamfer below. Axial bracing is present on the octagonal crownpost. The great height of the hall is unusual. A particularly notable feature is a 5-bay range from the early 17th century, arranged with chambers entered off a corridor – a layout more typical of lodgings associated with colleges and inns. Historical records indicate that the extravagance of John Wentworth in 1623 led to the depletion of his estates, and that Lady Anne Viscountess Dorchester later sold the court of Great Codham Hall to Dr Clerke sometime after 1637.