Bedingfield Hall

Bedingfield Hall

Manor farmhouse in two sections. The building comprises an early 14th-century east range with a long range dating to around 1600 on the west side, set corner-to-corner with the older range to form an L-shaped plan. Various small single-storey additions surround the main structure.

The building is timber-framed and plastered, with the ground floor largely underbuilt in colourwashed brick. The roofs are of old plain tiles except for the rear slope of the east wing, which is covered in glazed black pantiles. The west range rises to 2 storeys with attics. Windows are mostly casements of 18th-century date in a 3-light mullion and transom pattern.

The north gable end of the west range features a slatted ground floor window. Above this is an original 5-light window with ovolo-moulded mullion and transom, which projects slightly. Two other original windows in this chamber are visible from inside. The tie beam at this gable end also carries ovolo moulding.

The east range has a 20th-century gabled porch of colourwashed brick containing a mid-20th-century panelled door. The west range has a 19th-century 6-panel raised and fielded door and another 6-panel door of mid-20th-century date. The north end of the west range has two mid-20th-century garage entrances.

The west range contains a good internal stack with 4 detached octagonal shafts, each with moulded base and cap. A 19th-century stack inserted into this range has a mid-20th-century shaft. The east range has external stacks against each gable end; the southern stack has a plain oblong axial shaft of 17th-century date.

Interior

The east range comprises 2 bays of an unusually tall aisled house that once extended further north. The structure has been exposed only in the end bay. Irregular arcade posts, once chamfered, have all been cut just above the mortices for the arcade plate braces. The partition wall had passing braces, one of which remains in situ. In the rear wall of the end bay is an original doorway with short solid curved braces in the angles, one of which has been renewed. The cross-partition has a similar doorway and a wider opening, probably a serving hatch, adjacent. The end bay shows traces of sooting and may have been a kitchen, with the pantry and buttery to the north. The present roof over this range dates to the 18th century. An open fireplace in the east gable end incorporates re-used stonework; the first-floor fireplace has a brick arch. Evidence for another fireplace, back-to-back with the ground floor fireplace, indicates this range once extended further south.

The west range probably comprised parlour, hall and a 2-cell service end, all built in one phase. The hall was later used as a scullery and remains, together with the service end and attics, unmodernised. The service chamber at the north end has substantial studding with reverse-curved braces on the outside. A 17th-century newel stair leads from the chamber to the attic. Two original attic fireplaces with 4-centred arches, stuccoed and lined, survive; one retains an original oak hearth. The roof has 2 rows of butt purlins and cranked wind braces, with evidence for original dormers. The interior of the hall chamber and parlour cell was not examined.

The building is surrounded by an encircling medieval moat, which also encloses a fish pond.