Black Nest Hall

Black Nest Hall is a timber-framed barn, originally reportedly dating to 1728, that was dismantled and re-erected and converted into a house between 1926 and 1927 by C P Munn and A Beresford Pite. A further addition was made in the 1960s, with restoration and alterations undertaken around 1975. The building is timber framed with herring-bone brick nogging; the gables are tile-hung with bands of fishscale tiles, and the roof is covered in concrete tiles. Brick chimneys are also present.

Originally a 6-bay barn with a rear lean-to and opposing cart-entries (one at a midstrey), it was converted into a house featuring a central open hall spanned by balconies at two levels to provide communication between rooms at either end. The rear lean-to and midstrey were retained, with the midstrey housing the stair. The conversion incorporated a Tudor style, evident in the narrow panels, curved braces to the framing, a chamfered plinth, mullioned windows with leaded lights and casements (with Tudor-arched lights to the left, or "solar," end), a 2-storey canted glazed porch with mullions and transoms, a Tudor-arched board door, and large decorative chimneys. The building is two storeys and an attic, with six framed bays. A decorative lead band with a vine and grape motif conceals the mid-rail of the timber frame. The main entrance is in the third bay. Windows have 3, 4, and 6 lights on the ground floor, and 4, 3, and 3 lights above. A single, pedimented, 3-light attic dormer features a console-bracketed eared architrave. Lead rainwater pipes are present, along with a weather vane and a large chimney on the left with coupled, diagonally-set stacks with moulded heads; another stack is located to the rear of the fifth bay. An addition to the right includes a re-set 1920s window, rainwater pipe, and a board door. Further mullioned windows are on the rear and returns.

Internally, the timber frame features large-scantling unjowelled wall-posts, large arched braces to tie-beams, rectangular panels, a midrail, and a queen-post roof with principal and common rafters and staggered butt purlins. Exposed brick walls are at either end of the open hall, featuring large Tudor-arched fireplaces and openings. There is a wooden open-well stair, wide floor-boards, linenfold and board doors, and wooden balusters to the balconies. A decoratively-painted wind dial is located in the attic. Re-used 19th-century panelling is incorporated into the lower ceiling of the hall and lower balcony. The original barn was located in Dunsfold, Surrey.

Black Nest Hall is a high-quality house dating from the 1920s, exemplifying the interwar period’s trend of embellishing genuine old buildings in the Tudor style.