Listed Building: SPEXHALL HALL (282096)

TM 38 SE SPEXHALL HALL LANE 2/22 Spexhall Hall 1-9-53 - II Farmhouse. Late C15 and later. 2 storeys and attics to main range. Timber- framed and rendered; black glazed pantiles; a red brick gable on the east incorporating a chimney-stack with a plain square shaft. A lean-to on the west side, and a 1½ storey rear range at right-angles to the front, are both encased in colour-washed brick. The main range has an internal chimney-stack with short diagonally-set attached shafts; 3-light old mullion-and-transome type windows; and a 6-panel door with raised fielded panels, and surround with half-round pilasters, entablature, and an oblong fanlight with diagonal glazing bars. Basically, a late medieval 3-cell house, of which only the 2- bay open hall survives: this was high, with embattled ornament on the middle rails at what is now the level of the inserted ceiling. A fine doorway in the north-west corner, with 4-centred arched head and cavetto moulding, led to the parlour, replaced by the present lean-to. The main beam of the inserted ceiling has ovolo-moulding and stepped stops with jewel; the inserted stack, with 2 back-to-back hearths, is at the west end of the hall. At the east end, a later studded partition divides off the present entrance hall; the original service area was extended or replaced to form a parlour in the late C16. The roof over the former open hall, although altered, is smoke-blackened, and was apparently of simple rafter construction; over the eastern end there are clasped side purlins. The wing at the rear is an early-to-mid C17 service range with the main beams partly reused, probably from the earlier house: one has the remains of mouldings and Tudor flower motifs. The house stands on a rectangular moated site. Listing NGR: TM3781081290