Hill Place

Hill Place is a house with a complex history, dating back to the 16th century, with significant alterations around 1670, the mid-19th century, and the late 20th century. The construction incorporates mixed walling materials: the older core is of malmstone rubble with stone quoins, alongside brick dressings and a plinth. Later walls are of Flemish bond brickwork (17th and 19th centuries) and flint with brick quoins, with some sections of horizontal weatherboarding. The roof is tiled, with hips and gables at the rear, and gabled dormers.

Originally a late medieval, two-bay timber-framed hall house with a large chimney at one end, it was significantly altered and extended around 1670. This included the addition of a two-storey brick porch and a fine ceiling to the extended part, as well as recladding. Mid-19th century improvements and a late 20th century rear extension (mostly to the ground floor) followed.

The west front is of one storey and attic, with a symmetrical arrangement of two windows above three. A projecting porch sits between the first and second bays. Victorian sash windows are visible. The porch has a hipped roof, a fully moulded eaves cornice, brick walls, and an arched upper window with cut brickwork. The doorway features a prominent pediment with decorative mouldings, dentils, a rubbed flat arch, a plinth, a thick wood door frame, an original boarded door, and dates inscribed in the brickwork, including AD 1778. A stone platform with five steps leads to the main approach, with a smaller side approach of three steps and wrought-iron railings.

The irregular elevations feature sashes in the larger openings and casements in the smaller.

Inside, the original timber frame is exposed, alongside large fireplaces including one with a stone surround to a decorated room. The north-facing room has a particularly elaborate plaster ceiling dating from around 1670, with cornices to the walls and cross beams. The ceiling’s four panels contain deep recesses, each with projecting circular bosses featuring floral edged designs and interior motifs.

Hill Place is linked historically to Louise de Querouaille, the Duchess of Portsmouth, and it’s believed that the unusually elaborate and refined additions and alterations reflect her influence.