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Norfolk Heritage Explorer

Record Details

NHER Number:	3009
Type of record:	Building
Name:	Elsing Hall

Summary

A 15th century hall, within a medieval moat, which may incorporate elements of an earlier building. The Hall was extensively remodelled in the mid 19th century by Thomas Jekyll, and much of the visible fabric of the building is due to Jekyll's alterations. The foundations of a gatehouse and bastions, dating from the 15th century, have survived around the edge of the moated island.

Images - none

Location

Grid Reference:	TG 0400 1599
Map Sheet:	TG01NW
Parish:	ELSING, BRECKLAND, NORFOLK

Full description

Moated site with remains of bastion, and fishpond.
Hall itself supposed to have 13th century work, but oldest work now visible is mid to late 15th century.
However 90% of visible structure is of 1852 by Thomas Jekyll, see (S1).
Good 19th century latrine block.
See (S2) and (S3).
E. Rose, 6 March 1984.

March 1999. Site extended to north and south to incorporate park boundaries and former roadway and drive.
See (S4) and (S5).
See also (S10).
B. Cushion (NLA), 13 April 1999.

Detailed description (S6) gives documentary background, Jekyll’s plans, and history between the 15th and 19th centuries.
E. Rose (NLA), 16 January 2006.

February-March 2007. Watching Brief. From context 10.
Sections of medieval flint wall associated with upstanding flint stonework were located within the service trenches. These were considered to be contemporary with the construction of the hall, and probably associated with the brick gatehouse which is thought to date from the early to mid 15th century. The only other identifiable feature was a post medieval rubbish pit located to the south of the hall. The fill was a dark organic silt, suggesting this feature may have been used as a cess pit. Several sherds of medieval pottery were also recovered from a deposit within the service trenches.
A fragment of stone window tracery was also recovered from one of the trenches to the south of the hall. The piece was unfinished and lacked a mason's 'banker's mark'. The piece was intended to be part of a four-light window tracery, and appeared to have been reused at a later date as a thick layer of mortar adhered to the front face of the stone. It is possible that this piece of worked stone was originally intended for the four-light window in the north wall of the main hall, to the east of the entrance.
See reports (S7) and (S8) for further details. The results of this work are also summarised in (S9).
The associated archive has been deposited with the Norwich Castle Museum (NWHCM : 2016.63).
A. Cattermole (NLA), 17 September 2007. Amended by P. Watkins (HES), 20 June 2019.

September 2011.
There is a subterranean ram pump between the moat and the pond to the west at TG 03920 16036.
Also the base of a stone funerary monument in the wood to the west, which was probably imported by one of the previous owners. See digital photos.
D. Gurney (HES), 14 September 2010.

Monument Types

DRAINAGE DITCH (Medieval to 19th Century - 1066 AD to 1900 AD)
FISHPOND (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
GREAT HOUSE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HOLLOW WAY (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
MOAT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PARK (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
PARK PALE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
WALL (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
HYDRAULIC RAM (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
PRIVY HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROAD (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
RUBBISH PIT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Associated Finds

ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)
POT (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
ROOF TILE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
WINE BOTTLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)

Protected Status

Listed Building
Listed Building
SHINE

Sources and further reading

---	Aerial Photograph: TG0316D-J, P-U, V-Y,.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1986. Spectre haunts talk of politics. 12 July.
---	Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 1976. [Photograph of Elsing Hall]. 30 January.
---	Record Card: Ordnance Survey Staff. 1933-1979?. Ordnance Survey Record Cards. TG 01 NW 10 [3].
---	Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
---	Illustration: Bulwer, J.. Undated. Watercolour of Elsing Hall.
---	Monograph: Pevsner, N and Wilson, W. 1999. Norfolk 2: North-West and South. The Buildings of England. 2nd Edition. pp 331-332.
---	Newspaper Article: Sunday Times. 1987. City Rich, Country Wise (photograph of Elsing Hall). 18 January.
---	Article in Serial: Christopher Hartop. 2003. Aesthetic mover & shaper.. Country Life. 25 September, p1.
---	Article in Serial: Michael Hall. Elsing Hall, Norfolk.. Country Life. 12 March, p3.
---	Publication: Willins, E.P. (ed. By Thos. Garratt). 1890. Some Old Halls and Manor Houses in the County of Norfolk.. Pl 21.
---	Record Card: Clarke, R. R. and NCM Staff. 1933-1973. Norwich Castle Museum Record Card - Medieval. Elsing.
---	Secondary File: Secondary File.
---	Photograph: CLY 27-29.
---	Article in Serial: Boston, N. 1951. Report of the Summer Meeting of the Institute at Norwich, 1949. Part V. Norfolk: Castles and Mansions - Elsing Hall. The Archaeological Journal. Vol CVI p 112. p 12.
---	Collection: Norfolk Historic Environment Record Staff. 1975-[2000]. HER Record Notes. Norfolk Historic Environment Service.
<S1>	Article in Serial: Jeckell, T. 1864. Brief Remarks on Elsing Hall. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol VI pp 189-192.
<S2>	Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England.
<S3>	Unpublished Document: Rose, E.. 1984. Building Report.. Building Report.
<S4>	Unpublished Report: Cushion, B. 1999. Elsing Hall SMR 3009. Earthwork Survey Report.
<S5>	Monograph: Cushion, B. and Davison, A. 2003. Earthworks of Norfolk. East Anglian Archaeology. No 104. p 98.
<S6>	Unpublished Report: Wilson Compton Associates. 2005. Elsing Hall, Dereham, Norfolk. Report into the site of proposed preliminary works to the house.
<S7>	Unpublished Contractor Report: Hobbs, B. 2007. An Archaeological Watching Brief at Elsing Hall, Elsing, Norfolk. NAU Archaeology. 1267.
<S8>	Slide: Various. Slide. 1-12.
<S9>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. (ed.). 2007. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk in 2006. Norfolk Archaeology. Vol XLV Pt II pp 261-273. p 264.
<S10>	Article in Serial: Gurney, D. and Penn, K. (eds). 2000. Excavations and Surveys in Norfolk 1999. Norfolk Archaeology. XLIII Pt III pp 521-543. p 526.