Thorpe Hall

Thorpe Hall is a Grade II* listed house, believed to have been built in the late 16th century, around 1580, for Sir Guy Thorp. A kitchen wing, which is plastered and has a pantiled roof, was added to the west in the mid-19th century. The main structure is made of red brick laid in English bond, featuring a moulded eaves cornice with a sawtooth brick course above and parapet gables. The house is tall and impressive, consisting of two storeys with attics and an upper attic, arranged in a 3 by 2 bay layout. The middle bay, which is narrow and not quite central, projects at both the front and rear, extending the full height of the house.

All windows are mullion and transom casements set in stuccoed brick, with elliptical heads on the upper lights. Many of these windows were renewed in the mid-20th century, although some original windows remain, including those with mid-20th century leaded glass. Moulded brick pediments adorn all windows, which were once stuccoed and had quoined stuccoed surrounds. At the front, there are 5-light windows on each side, and the projecting centre bay forms a porch with an open entrance featuring a 3-centred arch and a simply-moulded pedimented surround. The porch contains a tall reproduction battened plank door with a 2-centre arched head, and the walls of the porch have seats beneath 4-centre arched recesses.

Above the porch, there are 3-light windows on the next two levels and a 2-light gable window lighting the upper attic. The gable stacks are notable, each featuring a fine group of four octagonal shafts on moulded brick bases with corbelled star caps. The gable ends have 2-light windows above the ground floor and paired small circular windows at the upper attic level. At the rear, the main windows consist of 4 lights, with an additional bay of 2-light windows to the west of the projecting bay.

The interior has been restored and features a newel stair in two flights, with the lower flight dating from the 20th century. Some open stuccoed fireplaces are present. The principal rafters are supported by cruck-like members that rise from the main attic floor, which is set beneath the eaves level. A first-floor gable window to the west has a dropped sill for a garderobe. The site is surrounded by a medieval moat.