Stutton Hall

A large timber-framed house, said to date to circa 1553 for Sir Edmund Jermy. The building is now faced in 19th and 20th century red brick, with red plain tile roofs. The original house features a gabled wing to the north-east and is accompanied by 19th and 20th century west extensions.

The house is notable for three exceptional chimneystacks on the original structure—one to the east wall and two to the south wall—each with four circular shafts displaying different Tudor mouldings, moulded bases and cappings. Two reproduction stacks of similar design have been added to the western extensions.

The building comprises two storeys, attics and a cellar. The north face displays the original gable to the east, a 20th century flat-roofed extension leading to a gabled stair turret at the re-entrant angle, and a further gabled wing to the west with a roof hipped to the east. Windows across this face show a pattern of 1:1:2:1:2:2 with various casements featuring mullions, some with transoms. A square garden with a gatehouse in its northern face is enclosed by a wall attached to the east and west of this elevation, suggesting the original entrance was opposite and to the west of the original gable.

The south face has a roof hipped to east and west, with five gabled dormers, one positioned between the original chimneysstacks and four to the west. A gabled stair turret lies to the east of the original building's chimneystack, with one diagonal shaft attached to the east wall. A 19th or 20th century gable breaks forward to the west with a two-window range beyond. This elevation contains eight first-floor and six ground-floor casements with mullions and transoms. The western gable features a first-floor five-light oriel with carved brackets and surround. A 19th or 20th century gabled porch to the west of the stair turret has double panelled doors, sidelights and a tripartite light above. This face overlooks a topiary garden toward the River Stour.

Interior

The roof of the original building, where visible, employs arch-braced side purlin construction. Substantial jowled storey posts are evident, particularly in the north wall and east wing. Excluding the attics, most ceilings feature moulded plaster panels in six divisions with moulded beams and cornices. Some beams carry moulded bosses, with panel designs typically showing various fleur-de-lys and roses, alongside fine vine and foliage friezes. Certain ceiling panels repeat the frieze design.

On the ground floor, the hall is panelled with eight-panelled doors featuring cocks-head hinges. It displays a grape and vine frieze, moulded beams, and fleur-de-lys and rose panelling to the ceiling. The moulded stone fireplace has an overmantel with a central two-tailed merman and scrolled foliate decoration. A later two-bay timber arcade features fluted columns with moulded and carved bases and Ionic capitals, supporting a moulded beam with ball finials to moulded bosses. East of this arcade, the stair entrance dado is similarly panelled, with the frieze and ceiling mouldings continued. The staircase features turned newels and balusters, continuing through to the attics with a centre newel.

The dining room to the west has a similar panelled dado and doors, moulded ceiling, and moulded stone fireplace with spandrels carved with foliage and a coat of arms. One corner contains a panelled closet. The north wall displays huge storey posts and a mullion window. In the hallway to the north, backing onto the closet, stands an original moulded and nailed vertically boarded door with a heavy iron catch, leading to the cellar.

The east wing contains two main rooms. The billiard room features a six-panelled ceiling with moulded beams, ornate fleur-de-lys panels with bosses, and a moulded frieze. Its moulded and plastered fireplace includes a mantel shelf and overmantel panel moulded with scrolls and borders. The adjacent room has a six-panel ceiling with fleur-de-lys panels and bosses to the moulded beams. Its moulded stone fireplace features a shelf and carved overmantel panel with end and central shields of arms and two boat-shaped heraldic beasts, each with two heads facing inward toward a central finial.

On the first floor, the main drawing room—formerly the Great Chamber—sits above the hall. Its six-panel ceiling features moulded beams with bosses, panels coved with thin rib patterns and moulded pendants, and delicate frieze decoration. Fluted wall pilasters with moulded bases and carved foliage capitals are evident. The moulded stone fireplace has four carved faces and a central shield of arms to the overmantel panel.

A small bedroom displays moulded beams to a panelled ceiling with moulded rectangular frames and moulded frieze. Its fireplace features fluted half-columns with bases and composite capitals, a moulded soffit to the shelf, a cast iron hob grate, and a two-panel door.

An east wing bedroom is panelled throughout. It has a six-panel ceiling with moulded beams carrying bosses, fleur-de-lys and rose decoration to the panels, and vine and grape decoration to the frieze. The storey posts are treated as panelled pilasters with moulded plaster capitals. Probably a stone bolection moulded fireplace features a cast iron hob grate, with a wood arcaded overmantel including frieze and cornice. A mullion window is present. A pump in a wooden case with a lever-type handle and spout is attached to the wall of the 19th or 20th century extension.

Ownership History

The house passed from the Jermys to the Tollemache family, then to Thomas May, later to the Earl of Dysart, and subsequently to the Catt family. In the 20th century it came to the Fison and Strott families.