NHER 8324 (Building record) - Irstead Old Hall

Elizabethan or Jacobean.
(S1) states formerly dated 1632 on porch; has blocked Tudor fireplace, pedimented porch, chimneys, walled gardens, doors. (It would be very odd if it did not have doors; presumably this means original doors).
E. Rose (NAU) 1974.

Listed grade II, see (S2), as farmhouse of late 16th century origin, altered late 18th century. Brick and black pantiles. West facade, 2 storeys, 5 bays, 2 storey gabled porch to right with arched entrance. Platband below 3 light mullioned window below pediment. 4 late 18th century casements to ground and first floors. Bell based gable roof with 4 hipped dormers. South internal gable stack. Rear (east) side has added outshuts through which rise 2 stepped external stacks, partly rebuilt, with triple octagonal flues and 19th century star tops, gabled back to main roof. The garden wall is listed as 18th century around original forecourt with rusticated piers to west entrance. North side common with kitchen garden wall to north, of similar type.
To south is five stead threshing barn, 16th century timber-framed, rebuilt in brick early 17th century, thatched. Cart
doors to east. South lit windows. Close studded interior timber frame to west. Roof of tiebeams on arched braces, collars and two tiers butt purlins. Curved windbracing to upper tier.
E. Rose, (NAU) 31 October 1986.

North Norfolk Council note that the barn has a set of doors in a gable wall which open onto the river; they believe these were used for loading wherries.
E. Rose, (NLA) 7 September 1999.

See provisional report in file pending fuller examination to come, showing that the barn is in fact 17th century rather than 16th with brick walls circa 1800 not 1600; comments on house also. See (S3).
E. Rose (NLA), 3 October 2001.

Provisional report superceded by full report November 2002, see (S3).
Barn now restored. House shown to be of 1632 (possibly on timber frame c.1600) with high quality remodelling late 18th century, and 19th/20th century alterations.
E. Rose (NLA), 19 November 2002.

December 2002.
Evaluation confirmed that the building has a timber frame.
E. Rose (NLA), 14 December 2002.

2010. Building survey.
An attempt has been made to chart the complex history of this house. It started life as a much larger L-shaped building of high status as expressed by the massive external chimney stacks and the porch. It was timber –framed with a tall brick plinth and high quality timber of substantial scantling. The building was odernised during the 18th century mainly by the replacement of mullion windows with larger mullion and
transom windows, the lining of the walls and the addition of cornices etc. It was also when the little parlour with its own heating was created. The building was drastically reduced between 1891 and 1907 related no doubt to an anticipated dispersal of the estate. This was followed by facing the timber-frame with brick and the addition of service rooms at the rear. The final major phase of alteration was when the porch doorway was blocked up and replaced by a door and corridor re-using the original frame taken from the porch. The room was thus reduced in size and it was given a suspended floor. An office was added at the back and the hearths were reduced.
See (S4) and (S5) for further information.
A. Cattermole (HES), 29 July 2011.

June 2010- July 2011. Watching Brief.
An archaeological watching brief carried out between June 2010 and July 2011 revealed the probable foundations of the former east wing of the hall. No finds or further features of archaeological significance were present within the limits of the excavations.
See report (S6) for details.
E. Bales (HES) 09 July 2012.