Listed Building: HENGRAVE HALL (283754)

TL 86 NW HENGRAVE 4/47 Hengrave Hall 14.7.55 I A large mansion built round a courtyard, incorporating the earlier de Hemegrave wing, 1525-1538, by John Eastawe, for Sir Thomas Kitson, merchant. Buff brick and limestone ashlar walls, clay plaintile roofs. Original symmetrical front altered 1775; central gateway with octagonal turrets flanked by 3 bay ranges terminated by similar turrets. Mullion and transome windows with hood moulds and arched heads to lights; leaded casements and fixed lights, with rectangular, diamond and stained glass; oriel window to chapel of 3 lights with 2-light flanking windows on west side; similar oriel on east side replaced in C18 by mullioned and transomed windows and octagonal buttresses. Four-centred arched gateway with receding orders and enriched spandrels; recessed doorway with original double panelled doors. Gateway flanked by ornamental stone pillars. Over the doorway is a richly decorated trefoiled oriel, late Perpendicular in design, with Rennaissance detailing, retaining much original colouring (compare Thornbury, Gloucs). Flanking the gateway, 2 octagonal turrets with Crocket-ornamented onion finials. At the east end C18 crenellated parapets, and at the west end coped gables. Ornate red brick chimneys have (except one stone pair) brick circular moulded shafts. Major alterations 1775 and again 1897-1900 when north wing built on site of demolished de Hemegrave wing. Splayed stone mullioned and transomed oriel to Great Hall with carved figure finials and stone roof with fan-vaulted soffit and traceried panelled rear arch; good heraldic glass. Hall has c.1900 oak hammerbeam roof, carved screen and gallery. Oriel in chapel has complete C16 painted glass on Biblical themes. Other C16 work includes: stone fireplaces and oak doorcases all with ogee-moulded chamfers, 4-centred heads and sunk spandrels; first-floor coved ceilings of trefoil form, with moulded cornice fixed to both lobes, the coupled-rafter roofs having purlins trenched over the collars. Large limestone fireplace c.1600 in Dining Room, in Rennaissance style with Ionic pilasters and pediment framing painted coat of arms. On the chimney breast further painting with strapwork and mermaids etc., supporting coat of arms. Alterations C.1900 include: strapwork plaster ceilings in 2 rooms, oak panelling, fireplaces, staircases, radiators in first floor corridors with brass cases pierced with fleur-de-lys and escutcheons, wallpaper by Morris & Co. in several rooms. 100 yards west a pair of wrought iron garden gates with flanking railings; 150 yards south-west a wrought iron field-gate with scrolly bracing, cast iron traceried piers with onion caps and fleur-de- lys finials. John Wilby, composer of madrigals, lived here 1592-1628. For detailed description and history, John Gage, History of Suffolk, Thingoe Hundred, 1838 and History and Antiquities of Hengrave in Suffolk, 1822. Listing NGR: TL8238968570