Clopton Hall

Clopton Hall is a manor house of 16th and 17th century date, with late 18th and early 19th century refacing to part. The building is timber framed with colourwashed render and Flemish bond brick facing to parts, beneath a plaintile roof. It rises to two storeys with an attic.

The entrance front features a recessed central portion flanked by projecting hipped wings. The central portion has been refaced in brick and contains a near-central doorway with a 6-panel door. The doorcase is moulded and carries a central winged cherub's head to the frieze with a pediment above. To the right of the doorway is a Venetian window with 20th century metal-framed fenestration. To the left is a 3-light casement with a cambered head. The first floor contains two 3-light metal-framed 20th century casements and at the far right a single-light casement.

The right hand projecting 16th century wing has a canted ground floor oriel with much renewed timber, featuring moulded mullions with angle beads and a transom of 5 lights supported on brackets with a moulded sill and lipped roof. At first floor is a 5-light casement with diamond-section mullions. The attic contains a 2-light gabled dormer. Exposed timbers encompassing large panels of pargeted plaster appear to both floors of this wing. The left hand flank of this wing has a 4-light ground floor window.

The left hand wing has a deep brick plinth with a ground floor 3-light 20th century metal-framed casement and a similar first floor window. A 2-light gabled dormer sits at attic level.

The right hand side of the building features a continuous window on the ground floor extending to the top of the wall, divided into 4 bays by wall posts, each having 6 lights with diamond-section mullions. To the second bay from the left are 6 further lower lights, separated from the top lights by a decorated transom. A similar arrangement appears to have existed at first floor, now partially blocked. A similar low 6-light window with decorated transom appears to the second bay from the left, with a 3-light top window to the bay at the far right.

The left hand side contains a brick window to the ground floor with a cross window at the right of centre and a 3-light 20th century casement at the left. At first floor are a 2-light 19th century casement at left and a 3-light 17th century window with ovolo-moulded mullions and transom at right, with an arched single-light window between these.

The rear elevation features an outshut to the centre with a catslide roof. The wing to the left of this is recessed and contains a 2-light 20th century casement within an earlier surround at ground floor and a 2-light metal-framed casement to the first floor at right, also within an earlier surround. Above this is a 3-light window with diamond-section mullions. The gable contains a 2-light window and bears the date 1947, referring to refacing of a pargeted panel. To the centre of the outshut is a 2-storey projecting gabled wing bearing the date 1958. A gabled dormer window to the right bears the date 1929. The recessed gable wing at the far right has exposed wall posts and a heavily cambered tie beam.

The interior contains a dining room with a chimneybreast featuring a Jacobean overmantel of 3 arched panels divided and flanked by trios of colonnettes standing on miniature plinths with diamond rustication and bands to their lower bodies. A dentilled cornice stands above with domed ovals to the frieze and strapwork panels at either side. The ceiling carries chamfered 17th century beams with decorative end stops. 18th century pine panelling lines this room.

The drawing room, located in the 16th century wing and formerly divided into two rooms, contains 17th century panelling, possibly brought from elsewhere, with moulded muntins and crossrails. An overmantel dated 1617 features 2 arched panels with marquetry inlay and incised scroll decorations, though several 20th century panels have been introduced.