Ruins Of Old Woodham Walter Hall

The ruins of Old Woodham Walter Hall are the remnants of a manor house dating from the early 16th century or earlier. The structure is made of red brick, featuring some decorative black header diapering. The brick wall bases are not continuous above ground, and sections of the walls follow the inner edge of the moat, varying in height from ground level to approximately 5 meters. There are also buttresses and remnants of a former cellar. Tiles from the 13th and 15th centuries have been discovered on the site. Fishponds, mentioned in the 13th and 14th centuries, are still present as of the 17th century. The moat has a roughly square shape and encircles a mound to the southeast, with the fishponds extending along the eastern edge. The site is heavily overgrown, and archaeological research is needed for a more accurate assessment. Thomas, Earl of Sussex, inherited the manor following the death of his father, Henry Fitzwalter, in 1557. Queen Mary Tudor is said to have taken shelter here before becoming queen. It is believed that the original church is located within the grounds of the hall, as part of a medieval coffin lid was observed at the edge of the moat during a re-survey. Thomas received a license from Queen Elizabeth on June 26, 1562, to construct a new church at a location of his choosing.