Great Codham Hall

TL 72 NW 3/137

WETHERSFIELD CODHAM'S LANE (south side) Great Codham Hall

21.12.67

II*

House. Early C14, altered and extended in C16 , early C17 and C18. Timber framed, plastered, roofed with handmade red clay tiles. Early to mid C14 3-bay crosswing facing NW, with 2 crosswings of C16 and early C17 extending to the rear, and C18 extension to the rear, forming an approximately square plan with internal stacks. Two storeys and attics. Entrance elevation, 7 window range ofC20 sashes of 4 lights. Central 6-panel door in C20 pedimented and pilastered porch with double half-glazed doors at front. The central part of the front elevation projects forward from the left part, and the right part projects forward again. Plain parapet, hipped roofs. The SE elevation has two 2-storey bows, each with 3 windows on each floor. Ground floor has 8 Cl9/C20 sashes of 6+9 lights, and central full-height sash of 6+12 lights. First floor has 6 C19/C20 sashes of 6+6 lights and central Venetian window. Interior has jowled posts and late C16 inserted stack at left end of C14 wing, with moulded and carved mantel beam. Moulded and carved ceiling beams. Four centred door head with carved spandrels giving access to the two bay C16 front range. The roof is of coupled rafter construction with both the collars and soulaces mortise and tenon jointed. One crown post is missing from the heavily cambered front (north) tie beam which has a bowtell moulding with a hollow chamfer below. The braces are now missing and there is no evidence for spandrel struts. The rear tie beam is of flat section with the same mouldings as those on the front tie beam. The crownpost is octagonal and has axial bracing. The great height of the hall is exceptional. Of interest is the early C17 5-bay range which, with its chambers entered off a corridor, is more characteristic of a lodgings range found in connection with colleges and inns. Morant states that the extravagance of John Wentworth Esq led to the wasting of the estates (1623) and Lady Anne Viscountess Dorchester had the court belonging to Great Codham-hall, which she sold to Dr Clerke sometime after 1637. RCHM 3.

Listing NGR: TL7382528058