NHER 16283 (Building record) - The Shettles, Holt Road

July 1980 and November 1995. Site visits.
The building stands in the centre of the present village in its own grounds to the west of the north-south road. Before the 18th century, however, its position seems to have been on the edge of Pyrles Green, which divided the village into the two hamlets of High Street and Low Street, Shettles being in High Green. The south boundary of the grounds marks the line of a medieval road known as Wayngate.
This is a complex building, aligned roughly north-south, and is of three sections, demarcated by roof height. The southern end appears to be the oldest part. (S1) suggests that this and the central section are both of late 16th century date, and also notes that the building cannot be linked to any of the 16th century probate descriptions for the village. The southern section clearly comprises a single timber-framed unit, but has an unusual plan with a crownpost truss off-centre to the north. Stephen Heywood (NCC) suggests that the original hall house, of which this is a part, originally extended further north but was truncated when the central section of the house was constructed. The crownpost suggests this part of the structure is an open hall of 15th century date, with an upper floor inserted at a later date.
The central section of the building is more straightforward. The brickwork, ovolo-moulded doorframes and windows date this part of the structure to the early 17th century. The older section (to the south) was underbuilt, and a cellar added at around the same time.
The northern block dates from before 1780 as the skintlings show. Reused beams thought to date from around 1500 support the first floor in this part of the building. It is unclear where these came from or when they were inserted.
In the 19th century substantial alterations took place and the building was at one time subdivided into cottages. The building has suffered from fire damage twice during the 20th century, and significant restoration work has taken place.
A medieval head corbel seen in the garden in 1980 had gone by 1995.
See report (S2) in file.
Listed (S3).
E. Rose (NLA), 2 November 1995.