Choppins Hill House

House. Dating to the late 14th century, Choppins Hill House is an exceptionally fine example of a raised-aisled hall house, possibly the most complete in the East Suffolk group. The house was originally built with a two-bay hall and contemporary, two-storey gabled cross-wings at either end. It is timber-framed and platered; the solar wing to the left has a jettied upper floor supported by thick knees. The service wing was formerly jettied as well. The roof is tiled, with an axial chimney of red brick inserted in the hall range in the 18th century, and external chimneys to both cross-wings. The hall range has had 20th-century casement dormers added to the roof. Early 20th-century casements with leaded lights are now present. A boarded and battened entrance door is retained.

The hall's open truss is a notable feature, consisting of a chambered beam supporting arcade posts with curved braces rising to square-sectioned plates. The posts are linked to the aisle wall plates by tie-beams, connecting to a pair of knees forming a two-centred arch on one side. The main tie-beam features a short octagonal crownpost, moulded and braced in the 14th-century style. Twin service doorways are ogee-headed and hood-moulded, enriched with carved fleurons. A massive blocked front cross-entry doorway retains a two-centred arched head. The dais beam at the upper end of the hall is embattled and decorated with painted applied lead flowers, with a previously screened blocked ogee-headed doorway alongside. Both cross-wings are complete, featuring moulded octagonal crownposts; the solar wing has an additional bay to the rear and incorporates an original staircase tower. The studwork is closely spaced, and internal faces lack windbracing. Fine splayed and tabled scarf joints incorporate undersquinted and sallied butts.

Around 1600, a large central chimney and an upper floor were inserted into the hall range, along with an ovolo-mullioned window and a small wing incorporating a newel stair. The tenement may have been held in the 14th century by the Augustinian Priory of Royston. In 1408, it was known as Thedeward's, and he, or a previous tenant, may have been the builder, funded by the Priory. Francis Chappine acquired ownership in 1609, giving rise to the house’s current name.