West Stow Hall, Suffolk
West Stow Hall in West Stow, Suffolk is the remains of an early 16th.century, Tudor moated house and gatehouse. It was built on the site of an existing medieval building. The now infilled moat, which predates the current structure, attests to that fact. No trace of this earlier building survives.
In 1526 Sir John Croftes, a substantial sheep farmer, leased the manor of West Stow from the Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds. He would eventually purchase these lands from the Crown, for £497, in 1540, after the dissolution of Bury Abbey.
Sir John Croftes’ other distinction was that he was Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, whose main country residence was at nearby Westhorpe Hall. This may well account for Mary Tudor’s coat of arms being present, inlaid into the fabric of the gatehouse; although, in truth, nobody quite knows how it got there. One story is that it might have been taken during the violent demolition of Westhorpe Hall, rescued and placed in situ over the entrance to West Stow.
Built in the 1520's, the brick built three storeyed gatehouse with polygonal turrets and was originally detached from the house, standing on the opposite side of the moat. In about 1580 it was connected to the main house with a colonnade built by Sir John's grandson.
The present house was in use as a farmhouse in 1813 and the original moat was filled in by 1840.
The house was altered during the early 19th. century, nevertheless, many original Tudor features can still be seen. During the restoration a wall painting thought to date to around 1575, was found in a small room on the second floor of the gatehouse. Known as the 'Four Ages of Man', it depict, in naïve form, a hunting scene and the four ages of man. A young man out hunting, inscribed ‘This do I all the day’; a man embracing a woman, inscribed ‘Thus do I while I may’; a middle aged man looking on, inscribed 'Thus did I when I might’; and a bent old man, leaning on his stick, who says ‘Good Lord, will this world last ever’.
The hall received Grade: I listed building status on 14th. July 1955. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 284184).
West Stow Hall, Suffolk
West Stow Hall in West Stow, Suffolk is the remains of an early 16th.century, Tudor moated house and gatehouse. It was built on the site of an existing medieval building. The now infilled moat, which predates the current structure, attests to that fact. No trace of this earlier building survives.
In 1526 Sir John Croftes, a substantial sheep farmer, leased the manor of West Stow from the Abbot of Bury St. Edmunds. He would eventually purchase these lands from the Crown, for £497, in 1540, after the dissolution of Bury Abbey.
Sir John Croftes’ other distinction was that he was Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk, whose main country residence was at nearby Westhorpe Hall. This may well account for Mary Tudor’s coat of arms being present, inlaid into the fabric of the gatehouse; although, in truth, nobody quite knows how it got there. One story is that it might have been taken during the violent demolition of Westhorpe Hall, rescued and placed in situ over the entrance to West Stow.
Built in the 1520's, the brick built three storeyed gatehouse with polygonal turrets and was originally detached from the house, standing on the opposite side of the moat. In about 1580 it was connected to the main house with a colonnade built by Sir John's grandson.
The present house was in use as a farmhouse in 1813 and the original moat was filled in by 1840.
The house was altered during the early 19th. century, nevertheless, many original Tudor features can still be seen. During the restoration a wall painting thought to date to around 1575, was found in a small room on the second floor of the gatehouse. Known as the 'Four Ages of Man', it depict, in naïve form, a hunting scene and the four ages of man. A young man out hunting, inscribed ‘This do I all the day’; a man embracing a woman, inscribed ‘Thus do I while I may’; a middle aged man looking on, inscribed 'Thus did I when I might’; and a bent old man, leaning on his stick, who says ‘Good Lord, will this world last ever’.
The hall received Grade: I listed building status on 14th. July 1955. (English Heritage Legacy ID: 284184).