Monks Hall

Monk's Hall is a manor farmhouse dating back to approximately 1600, with an earlier wing remodelled in the early 17th century, creating an L-shaped plan. The building is timber-framed and plastered; the main range retains exposed studwork on its front elevation. The roofs are largely plaintiled, and the house stands two storeys high with attics. The main range originally comprised three cells, with access through a cross passage. Some original ovolo-moulded mullioned windows with diamond-leaded glass remain, along with a notable 17th-century mullion and transom window on the first floor. Later windows, dating to the late 18th and early 19th centuries, are casements with large panes of glass. A well-preserved porch features a jettied upper floor supported on three sides, with some mutilated balustrading to the side openings. The original studded plank entrance door is located within the porch. A particularly fine stack is present, featuring four enriched circular shafts with caps and bases.

The projecting wing is distinguished by a crowstepped brick gable end, circular windows on the upper floors, corbelled eaves pinnacles with ball finials, and a stack with an inset panel at its base. A 17th-century splayed first-floor window is found on one side wall of this wing.

Inside, the hall is lined with complete oak panelling, much of it original. Above the fireplace is a portion of an elaborate early 17th-century overmantel, originally brought from Ufford Place near Woodbridge around 1940. A plank and muntin screen with a painted overdoor depicting Solomon’s Judgement, believed to be from the late 17th century, is located at the lower end of the hall. The hall ceiling features ovolo-moulded beams and joists. The parlour boasts complete pine panelling from the early 18th century and a contemporary bolection-moulded fireplace with a painted overmantel. The parlour chamber has a fireplace of a similar date, flanked by pilasters, with a painted overmantel and a good 19th-century cast iron grate set within a tiled surround. Remains of fresco paintings are present on both chimney breasts, normally concealed.

The earlier wing likely has a core dating back to the 15th century, evidenced by sooting on some timbers and remains of diamond-mullioned windows. A stuccoed first-floor fireplace with a four-centre arch and quoined surround is also present. A small gap exists between the two wings; at first-floor level, the remains of 16th-century incised geometric pargeting are visible on the former exterior wall of the earlier range.