Site Record

A late 16th century lobby-entry house, with 17th and 18th century additions and alterations. Local history suggests The Old Court was built for a travelling magistrate and used as a manorial court. It is more probable that The Old Court was used as a manorial court at a later date and not built for this purpose.

Phase I, late C.16th ? Lobby-entry house, probably in the form of an end-entry, two-bay plan. Initially two-tier box framed construction, with wattle and daub infill; later raised and refilled. Between the hall and the service end sits a square-framed partition with two doorways, both of which have been altered at a later date by having door heads cut back. The axial beam over the hall has broad chamfers with diagonal stops, which have been cut out at the partition end; it is possible this may have been inserted shortly after construction.

Phase II, C.17th ? Box framed, three-tiered two storey parlour wing with inner pantry added to west end of hall, possibly replacing an earlier bay; suggested by the sole & wall plate extending beyond the chimney. The hall is also raised to create a full first floor with possible reuse of trusses. Dating for this section comes from a transverse partition beam with chamfer and oogie-stop. Reused timbers used as purlins, which is evident from stave holes and both top and bottom tenons.

Phase III, C.18th ? Re-planning turned the service room into a parlour and sites the kitchen in the cross-wing parlour. Alterations to the first floor partition by cutting through the tiebeam created two doorways, with new trusses being raised from reused timber for the roof. The brick infill was replaced the earlier wattle-and-daub, with the removal of the mid-rail of phase I to help facilitate this. It was also during this century that the floor of the service room was sunk to create a cellar, with a suspended floor over.

Records show that a family by the name of Perry bought Court in 1949 with 22 acres. The current owners hold deeds for The Old Court that date back to the mid 17th century, which will be examined further. To the north lays an associated late 17th century oak barn (NPRN 419456), which was once part of a small farmyard range.

Ross Cook & Richard Suggett, RCAHMW. 24th October 2013