Haile Hall

Description

Thinly walled C16 pele tower 9m by 7m and C16 range north of C18 mansion. North range has dated lintel: "SP 1591 AP" {Ponsonby} (From Perriam and Robinson)

Haile Hall, dated 1591 and 1625, is built on a U plan; the rear wing is 16th century, the middle wing 17th century and the front wing early 18th century. Hall, and gatehouse which stands to the south, Grade 2-star (Listed Building Report: Pevsner).
Large house with gatehouse range to south. The north range of the main house is dated 1591. It was extended to the south in the 17th and early 18th centuries. The house is three storeyed and stone-built, with slate roofs. The gatehouse range comprises a service wing and attached cottage, with a central, arched, through passage providing access to the main house. It dates from the 16th/17th century and is built of stone rubble with a slate roof. Listed Grade II-star (Listed Building Report).
An architectural survey of 1962 shows a central tower house to which a hall range was added in the 16th century on the north side, and a range added to the west and south in the 18th century. Illustrations and plan (Perriam and Robinson). (PastScape)

Large house. North range has dated lintel: "SP 1591 AP" (Ponsonby); extended to south C17 and early C18. Roughcast stone with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. 3 storeys, south elevation of 5 bays. Dripstone over ground floor. Windows have moulded reveals, those to ground floor have 6-pane sashes, those to 1st floor have 12-pane sashes, 2nd floor small-paned horizontally sliding sashes. Central entrance has applied turned posts to jambs; studded door. Gable-end stacks have strings and cornices, that to east return projects. West elevation of 4 gabled bays, the inner bays narrower. Single-chamfered mullioned windows with label moulds of 2 lights to 1st 3 bays, with transoms to 1st floor; small-paned or leaded glazing; 2nd floor has transoms to 2nd and 3rd bays; 4th bay has 2-light transomed window to ground floor, Venetian window with sashed windows with glazing bars to 1st floor, probably early C19. North elevation of 4 bays. Ground floor has long window with label mould and small-paned fixed glazing; casement in chamfered reveals and 2 windows of 2 lights; 1st floor has sashed windows and one mullioned and transomed window; 2nd floor has casement, horizontally sliding sash, leaded window and window with small-paned fixed glazing. Entrance to 2nd bay has sunk triangular head and dated lintel under canopy; bellcote. East elevation has recessed bay varied fenestration, mostly 2-light windows, irregular canted re-entrant bay. Interior has panelling to hall and spiral stair. (Listed Building Report for Hall)
Gatehouse range to south of Haile Hall. Service range and cottage. C16 or C17. Stone rubble with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. L-plan. South elevation has central 2-storey bay with segmental-arched through passage. Coped gables. Windows have leaded glazing. 2 small lights to west with entrance and sashed window to end, 3 windows to east, the end one of 2 lights next to entrance. Panel with armorial bearing over entrance, below 2-light window with attic light over; weather vane to ridge. Gable-end stack. West elevation has lean-to outshut and projecting gabled structure with ogee window opening. 1st floor entrance and pigeon openings. North elevation has blocked chamfered entrance and 1st floor entrance up steps, with pegged door; 2-light window, adjacent east elevation has large windows with leaded glazing. (Listed Building Report for Gatehouse)

Comments

The early tower is not obvious within the later building and most descriptions of this house do not mention it. Is the thin walled building one that can really be called defensive? The gatehouse is modest and again is hardly a defensive building.