Stiffkey Old Hall

Stiffkey Old Hall is a large house dating from 1576 and subsequently altered in the 17th, 18th, and 20th centuries. The construction combines flint walls with brick and stone dressings, and red pantiled and plain tiled roofs. It represents a fragment of a 'U' shaped house originally planned to be symmetrical around a courtyard.

The house was built for Sir Nathaniel Bacon, with financial assistance from his father, Sir Nicholas. Today, the west or kitchen range and half of the north or Hall range survive; the Hall is now ruinous and the east range was demolished. Distinctive round towers are located at the north-east (ruined), north-west, and south-west corners, with storeys separated by string courses, featuring two-light casement windows, and a parapet to the north, appearing to have a defensive function.

The north range's north side features mullioned and transomed windows, some replacements from the 20th century. The west range's west front has irregular window placement, mostly consisting of 18th-century leaded casement windows of three lights on the first floor. A classical entrance surround was added around 1911. The gable of the Hall range is highlighted by a mullioned and transomed attic window, flanking stacks, and a central finial. A visible external kitchen chimney breast stands alongside two stacks at eaves level. A south-facing rectangular stairs tower is present, with two-light casement windows arranged as risers.

Within the courtyard, the north Hall range has mullioned and transomed windows. A passage leading to the roofless hall includes a four-centred arched doorway and a 16th-century door. The stairs tower is located at the north-east angle, with the north-west corner being ruinous.

The west range of the courtyard has a mullioned and transomed window on the ground floor and 18th-century casements above. It exhibits a four-centred doorcase arch. The west range’s south gable is divided into three storeys, with a mullioned and transomed window on each level; it has a coped brick parapet, bracket kneelers, a central stone finial, and a round tower at the west.

The interior was rebuilt in 1791 and subsequently altered in 1911 by Harry Redfern and in 1978 by Bernard Feilden. The west range retains some four-centred fireplaces, an internal timber-framed partition on the first floor to create a service corridor, and a plaster barrel vaulted attic chamber. The rectangular west stairs tower features a newel running from floor to roof height, although the stairs themselves were not built. The north range displays a barrel vaulted attic, where plaster was stripped to reveal the underlying timber structure, including deep 11" x 4" stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops.

Stiffkey Old Hall is an early example of a country house with rooms served by passages.