Old Hadleigh

Old Hadleigh is a 15th-century timber-framed house that was moved to its present location on London Road, Capel St Mary, in 1934 when threatened with demolition prior to road building. It was originally sited at 14 George Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk.

The building is constructed with a timber frame and red brick herring-bone nogging infill, with red plain tiled roofs. It follows an L-shaped plan over two storeys with a gable to the left. The principal front is jettied with a moulded bressumer. Red brick external chimney stacks stand to both right and left returns, each containing two circular shafts with moulded bases and capping and spiral decoration. The rear wing has a stack with two attached diagonal shafts and moulded capping.

Carved details on the exterior include the left ground floor corner post, which is carved with scrolls and a rose, and its capital which bears a carved robed figure holding an open scroll. Moulded jetty brackets flank the door and appear at the far right, those by the door and far right being supported by panelled shafts with moulded capitals. The return walls feature halved bracing. Both the gable and return gables have bargeboards carved with scrolls and foliage. A carved bressumer to the gable bears the date 1424. Four small gargoyles adorn the first floor.

The window and door openings show considerable craftsmanship. Three first-floor windows are 3-light leaded mullions, those to right and left incorporating small sidelights and transoms with moulded and carved soffits. Ground floor windows to left and right are 4-light leaded mullions with transoms. Some mullions are original whilst others are reproductions. The central segmental arched door has a moulded square head with spandrels carved with leaves and flowers and a carved lintel. The nailed board and muntin door came from Ipswich Old Jail. Leaded sidelights feature carved dragons to the cills. The roof structure employs halved and bridled side girt and top plate scarfs. To each side of the gable window are moulded rainwater heads with spouts. To the rear of the front range are a 5-light ground floor mullion and a blocked first floor window. A crenellated stair turret, plastered with panels and fleur-de-lys, has first floor 3-light and ground floor 2-light mullions. The rear wing's ground floor is open to the north and contains a set back brick wall with a blocked 4-centred arch, possibly a former bake-oven. Various mullioned windows light the first floor, and a 20th-century ground floor bay was added to the south.

The interior is richly decorated. The hall has a moulded ceiling and bridging joists, with a storey post by the stairs carved with a gargoyle. The staircase features turned balusters, a moulded handrail, and carved and moulded newels and string with panelled dado. The left ground floor room displays a moulded ceiling and bridging joists, and a restored brick fire surround with a fine mantel beam carved with deer and trees. The ends of this beam contain spice cupboards with panelled doors. Above is a plastered overmantel with side columns and a frieze of flowers, with a central panel displaying a hanging shield of arms surrounded by flowers and foliage. Two side panels show deer, stags' heads, lions and portcullises. A wall plate in this room is dated 1537.

The right ground floor room is fully panelled with moulded bridging and ceiling joists bearing carpenters' marks. A panelled frieze features carved animals. A stone moulded 4-centred arched fire surround with square head has carved spandrels and a moulded mantel shelf. Above is a fine timber-carved overmantel of six panels, each with a central roundel or diamond surrounded by carved motifs, jewels to the central rail, and carvings to upper muntins. Side shafts are carved with fruit and flowers and flanked by right and left figures supporting a carved entablature. A large bridging joist to the first floor landing is carved with oak leaves.

Each of the front bedrooms has a stone fire surround with moulded 4-centred arch and shields to spandrels with moulded shelf. Above one is a plaster panel inscribed with lion, rose, thistle and fleur-de-lys with the date 1649 beneath. This bedroom has a plaster-panelled ceiling with a central panel of fleur-de-lys and roses. The other bedroom has a plaster panel above the fireplace displaying a central portcullis, rose, lion, lion mask and a further unclear face. A painted, carved or plastered bridging joist with moulded soffit is embellished with sea creatures and heraldic motifs on its sides.

The roof is said to be of double side purlin structure. The present owner holds a list of copy holders and freeholders dating back to 1719 and a copy of a deed dated 1790.