St Clere'S Hall

St. Clere's Hall is an aisled hall house with crosswings, dating back to the 14th century. It has undergone alterations and additions in the 16th century, and more recent changes. The building is characterised by its exposed timber frame and red plain tiled roofs.

The two-storey crosswings were originally jettied at first floor level; the right-hand wing is now underbuilt, but retains its jetty to the gable, supported by brackets. There is arched bracing to the left crosswing, with a three-light casement window on the first floor, featuring a transom and pightle hooks, and a similar window on the ground floor. Moulded jetty bressumers are also present. The ground floor of the left crosswing features a central, 18th-century, small-paned bow window, alongside three-light and four-light mullion windows to the right and left. The hall itself has a four-light window on the right and a two-light window on the left. A 20th-century door has a moulded surround and carved spandrels. A later, tall, weatherboarded turret is located to the rear of the hall. The aisled hall has an off-centre red brick chimney stack, while two external stacks are situated on the right and left sides of the crosswings; the front-left stack is stepped with two restored octagonal shafts. A two-storey red brick porch is attached to the rear of the left crosswing, and a single-storey lean-to extends from the right crosswing. A 16th-century red brick extension to the left crosswing incorporates a garderobe within the chimney stack.

Inside, two bays of the original aisled hall remain, with impressive octagonal posts with moulded capitals and bases, arched braces to tie beams and side plates, and a reversed eaves assembly. Visible carpentry details include stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops, a splayed scarf joint with square vertical butts, bridles and edge pegs, and a side purlin roof. Radiocarbon dating suggests a construction date around 1350. Remaining features include portions of the original screen in the west wall, a crenellated wall plate on the east wall, a staircase incorporating 17th-century elements, a large red brick fireplace with a mantel beam, and various original windows throughout the house. The east wing, originally of two bays and also jettied at both ends, contains a halved and bridled top plate scarf and a roof supported by two armed elongated octagonal crown posts. This wing was later extended south in two phases. The hall stands within a moated site.