Gateway, 60 Metres North West Of Nettlestead Chace

TM 04 NE 6/129 9.12.55

NETTLESTEAD HALL LANE Gateway, 60 metres north-west of Nettlestead Chace

II

Gateway, late C16. Probably the surviving fragment of a wall once surrounding the base court of Nettlestead Hall (now known as Nettlestead Chace). In the C16 the manor was held by the Wentworth family; 2 shields in the spandrels of the archway bear the quarterings of Thomas, 2nd Lord Wentworth (1525-83) and his second wife Anne (d.1571). The structure is about 5 metres high and wide, of plastered brick with well-carved but much-weathered dressings of limestone. The archway has a semi-circular head on moulded imposts and the spandrels are enriched with egg-and-dart moulding. On either side is a Roman Doric pilaster on a square plinth carved with a diamond motif. These support an entablature with a triangular pediment containing within the tympanum rich carving which has eroded away. The cornice above the pediments and the parapet were added c.1800 when the surviving fragments of walling on either side were also remodelled. The pair of wrought iron gates are of C19 or C20. An etching by H. Davy made in 1823 shows the gateway with enrichment clearly shown. For photographs and illustrations of heraldry, Suffolk Houses: Sandon: 1977.

Listing NGR: TM0889749302