Columbine Hall

STOWUPLAND BACK ROAD TM 06 SE

5/169 Columbine Hall -

-- II*

A major fragment of a manor house, now farmhouse. Late C14 or c.1400, with alterations of c.1600. Flint rubble walling up to 1st floor level; quoins and much patching of C18 and C19 red brick; from ground floor level to 1st floor level the flintwork is painted. The timber-framed and plastered upper storey walling is jettied on north and west sides over the moat, with exposed joist ends and a corner post with moulded and embattled capital. The bressumer is moulded on the north side and covered on the west. Plaintiled roofs. Two 2- storey ranges, rising sheer from an approximately square moat at its north- west corner: at the centre of the west elevation is a blocked former carriage entrance (which must have been approached by bridge over the west arm of the moat), now marked by flanking knees beneath the jetty. Mainly C19 small-pane casements, some instead have leaded glazing. At the re-entrant angle of the courtyard elevation is a small gabled porch-like projection added c.1600 which would have contained an entrance doorway; adjacent to it is an early C19 gault brick and slated lean-to extension with 6-panelled entrance door. An axial early C17 chimney of red brick with sawtooth shaft; two internal C19 chimneys. Interior: Massive late C14 timber-framing members; cambered tiebeams with unchamfered broad knee-braces. Studding with ogee-curved external windbracing (mainly concealed). Splayed scarf jointing with undersquinted butts. Coupled-rafter roof, remodelled with clasped purlins in C17. At 1st storey is a blocked original doorway of chamfered 2-centred arch form. The carriage entrance is formed simply, with knee-braced beams, and may have been a secondary point of access to the site. The main entrance is on the south side of the moat, suggesting that a hall range may have occupied the north sector. A well staircase of c.1600 has good turned balusters and newels with ball finials. One chamber has an early C17 oak overmantel with arcading and a frieze; the fire surround is of early C19. A single bay block at the east end of the north range is lower and has a coupled-rafter roof, and may be original or C17. It has a fragment of an early C17 plaster ceiling with a vinescroll frieze, one of a group of angels, and formerly fleurs-de-lys; the room was traditionally known as a chapel. A timber-framed gable now within the roof space is nogged with narrow pink bricks of late C16 appearance; perhaps there is extensive concealed bricknogging. A set-forward late C19 range of red and gault brick on the courtyard side.

Listing NGR: TM0675660848