Historic Building Recording

Site Name: The Old Hall

Address: Lynn Road, Snettisham, PE31 7LR, Norfolk

Grid Reference: TF6850834346

NHER Number: 1561

Planning Authority: King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council

Planning Application Number: 11/01514/F

Historic Environment Service Reference: CNF43749

Report Compiled by: Mr Steven Edwards

Date: 27 December 2011

1. Description of the Proposal

Proposed is to convert The Old Hall, Snettisham (the “property”) from its previous use as a residential care home back to use as single family dwelling with annex for staff accomodation. The principal aims of the design are to remove the major Sue Ryder Care Home period (1980 to 2006) inserted institutional elements from the building thereby returning the layout to something approaching earlier arrangements as a single residence. The remaining historic elements of the house will be kept. The removal of the institutional elements will primarily entail the demolition of stud walls to open up historic room sizes, demolition of a lift shaft blocking an exterior fan window, demolition of an unsympathetic staircase that cut through the middle of the 18 th century west wing, with minimal opening of walls to permit new doors that rationalise building circulation and the removal of a pvc conservatory on the west wing. There are minor exterior changes proposed. They include the addition of a ceiling lantern in the north one story 20 th century extension to create a garden room, the addition of small glazed storm porch where the current pvc conservatory currently stands. The most notable exterior change will be the demolition of the front entrance porch (early-mid 20 th century) and reinstatement of the front entrance with door surround to the central front gable at the front of the house (see section 2 historic photos for illustration).

2. Description and History of the Building

Description

The property dates from the early 17 th century with later additions over the course of the 18 th and early 19 th centuries. The buildings is of carstone with brick dressings under pantile roofs. The current form is basically L-shaped with the oldest part (referred to as the main hall) running east-west and the side wing (referred to as the service wing) running north-south. There is also an 18 th century coach house and stable block dating from the 18 th century to east and north east of the service wing. The hall is listed grade II* and the stable block is listed grade II.

Recent History

2006 – 2011

The most recent history of the property prior to the current owners saw the property vacant from mid- 2006 after its purchase from the Sue Ryder Care Home company by KSPG Properties Ltd a property development company. Various planning applications over the course of 2007 to 2010 culminated in planning consent being granted in 2010 for subdivision of the main building into four residential apartments with conversion of the outbuildings and west wing into a further seven residential units. None of these consents were implemented.

1977 – 2006

The property was purchased by Sue Ryder from the estate of Lady Strickland bringing the end of over 300 years of single family use and was converted into a 50 bedroom nursing home. The conversion stripped out a significant amount of the historic detail of the property in the service wing, part of the ground and

2 first floor of the main hall and the attic rooms. The main historic elements that remain are cornicing detail in the drawing room, library, and stair hall. The regency staircase was retained as was the panelling in one of the first floor bedrooms. Service staircases in the main hall were removed and replaced with a lift shaft. Multiple rooms were partitioned to create more bedrooms. Throughout the property doors and architraved were removed and brought up institutional fire code. Most floorboard were removed and replaced with chip board and carpet overlay. Almost all laith and plaster walls were replaced with stud walls and plasterboard. Two chimneypieces remain – one in the library and one in the drawing room.

Pre 1977

See Appendix I for excerpts from “The Old Hall, Snettisham” by Stephen Thomas, Historic Landscpape Management, October 2008

Historic Photographs Evolution of Front Elevation

The Old Hall circa 1870

The Old Hall circa 1908

The Old Hall circa 1952

3. Photographs of the building

No. Description 1 Front elevation facing north 2 Front elevation facing northwest/west 3 Side view facing west towards east elevation 4 Facing west towards east and north elevations 5 Facing south towards north elevation 6 Facing south towards north elevation 7 Facing south towads west corner end o f north elevation 8 Facing east toward west elevation 9 Facing southeast towards west elevation and one story extension 10 Facing west towards east elevation of carriage house 11 Facing north towards south elevation of stable block 12 Facing west towards towards service entrance on Lynn Road 13 Facing north in current entrance hall towards main staircase 14 Facing north towards main staircase 15 Cailing detail of main staircase hall 16 Ceiling detail of main staicase hall first floor landing 17 Facing east in drawing room 18 Cornicing detail drawing room 19 Fire surround stones (not original to spot as found under floor boards to drawing room circa 1978) 20 Detail of fire surround stone 21 Facing west from library toward main staircase hal l 22 Panelled room first floor 23 Panelled room first floor 24 Panelled room first floor 25 Master bedroom facing est 26 Bedroom facing southeast 27 Bedroom window centre gable of front elevation facing south

1. Front elevation facing north

2. Front elevation facing northwest/west

3. Side view facing west towards east elevation

4. Facing west towards east and north elevations

5. Facing south towards north elevation

6. Facing south towards north elevation

7. Facing south towards west corner of north elevation

8. Facing east towards west elevation

9. Facing southeast towards west elevation and single story extension

10. Facing west towards east elevation of carriage house

11. Facing north towards south elevation of stable block

12. Facing west towards service entrance on Lynn Road

13. Facing north in current entrance hall towards main staircase

14. Facing north towards main staircase

15. Ceiling detail of main staircase hall

16. Ceiling detail of main staircase hall first floor landing

17. Facing east in drawing room

18. Cornicing detail in drawing room

19. Fire surround stones current dining room (not original as found under floorboards to drawing room circa 1979)

20. Detail of fire surround stones

21. Facing west from library to main staircase hall

22. Panelled room first floor

23. Panelled room first floow

24. Panelled room first floor

25. Master bedroom facing west

26. Bedroom facing southeast

27. Bedroom window centre gable of front elevation facing south

4. Plans Of The Building: Existing and Proposed

Ground Floor Existing

First Floor Existing

Ground Floor Proposed

First Floor Proposed

Elevations Current

Elevations Proposed

APPENDIX BUILDING HISTORY PRE-1977 As Excerpted from “The Old Hall Snettisham” by Stephen Thomas, Historic Landscape Management, October 2008

Introduction

This section outlines the history of the ownerships and development of the Old Hall at Snettisham. It has been prepared from existing published sources coupled with a one day visit to the Norfolk Record Office and Heritage Studies Library in Norwich. An initial assessment of the archives suggests that there will be more detailed information on property ownership and possibly on building and landscape developments at Old Hall, but this would involve considerable time in going through title deeds, indentures and other family records now mostly contained in the Le Strange papers. Initial research suggests that Pevsner 1 is correct to say that the hall has a complicated building history, although changes and alterations to the landscape appear to be more straightforward.

Early History of the Manor

The first certain references to the manor land holdings at Snettisham come in the Saxon period when it appears to have been held by Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury 2.

Following the Norman Conquest the manor was granted to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and half brother of William the Conqueror. The title of Lord of the Manor was still in his possession at the time of the Domesday Book in 1085, although Odo was latter deprived of his holdings, including Snettisham by William II 3. Snettisham manor was subsequently granted to William de Albini, the King’s butler and ancestor of the Earls of Sussex.

On the death of Hugh, Earl of Sussex and Arundel in 1243 his estates were divided between his sisters and coheirs. The lordship of Snettisham appears to have been granted to Lady Isabel, his wife. In 1286 it was recorded that Lady Isabel had held a capital messuage, a windmill, 120 acres of land, a fishery and pasture by the sea at Snettisham. On Isabel’s death the manor passed by marriage to Roger de Montealto or Lord Montalt.

On Lord Montalt’s death the manor was settled on Isabella who is described by Blomefield as the Dowager Queen of England. It is possible that Blomefield means Isabella Mortimer (who with her husband Robert had been involved in the disposition of Edward II - the date is therefore post 1326, possibly c.1358 4). Thus Snettisham manor became crown property and by the time Henry IV succeeded to the throne in 1399, it had become part of the Duchy of Lancaster (having been granted to the son of Edward III in 1373).

In 1416 the manor was settled on Henry, archbishop of Canterbury and others but remained in the ownership of the Crown 5. The manor appears to have remained Crown property until perhaps as late as the early 17 th century, although it was leased or settled on various tenants during this period.

Changing Ownership in the 16 th and 17 th Century’s

In the late 16 th and early 17 th century the manor lands appear to have been farmed by a Wymond Carye 6. Carye (later Sir Wymond Carye) seems to have leased the manor from the Crown and some of the earliest traceable works to the Old Hall may perhaps be due to him.

Sir Wymond died childless in 1612, having passed the lease to his nephew Henry, in the hope of continuing the Carye line in Snettisham. It was probably Sir Henry who purchased the manor with Old Hall from the Crown in c.1614 7. Whilst this is the first clear mention of a building on the manor lands, the physical structure of the existing building suggests that Wymond Carye’s Old Hall stood on the site of an earlier building, of Elizabethan plan form.

Despite his uncles desire to maintain the estate, Sir Henry appears to have divided and then sold much of his properties in Snettisham. On acquiring the manor he immediately conveyed the majority of the estate to Thomas Cremer, except for certain lands and rights which were sold to Robert Styleman of Field Dalling and others8. Robert Styleman also acquired other property in Snettisham from the Cremer family in 1614.

1 Pevsner, N and Wilson, B (1999) The Buildings of England: Norfolk 2 – North-West and South , p.656 Penguin Books 2 Blomefield, F (1809) History of Norfolk , Vol. X p.370

3 Blomefield Op Cit. p. 370 - 371 4 James, E The Old Hall Snettisham and the Styleman Family , Norfolk Archaeology XXXVIII Pt III p343 - 356 5 Blomefield Op Cit. p. 372 6 Pevsner Op Cit p.656 7 James Op Cit. 8 James op Cit. 28

At this time, in the early 17 th century, it is thought that the Old Hall was in the ownership of the Cremer family. Historical accounts suggest that this family’s ownership extended into the early 18 th century and James has cited property deeds for the Styleman family acquiring the Old Hall in c.1710 9. While this is not necessarily disputed, a map of the parish dated c.1625 may indicate that the Stylemans were resident or tenants at the Old Hall at a much early date. The text on the map to the north of the hall is difficult to read but appears to say ‘Jn Cremer’ on top with the word ‘Stilyman’ below. If this second line is taken to indicate a tenant then those responsible for the earliest recorded alterations at the hall may be either the Carye’s, Cremer’s or the Styleman’s 10 .

However, it is recorded that John Cremer went bankrupt in 1638 and his Snettisham estates were conveyed to John Whiting of Middlesex, Robert Stileman of Field Dalling and Walter Kirby of King’s Lynn. Snettisham manor was sold to Martin Cobb of Ingoldisthorpe. The Cobbs, in turn, conveying it to Robert Cremer in 1702 11 .

Old Hall in the Early 17 th Century

Currently, the earliest surviving map showing the Old Hall dates from c.1625 and is held in the Le Strange archive at the Norfolk Record Office 12 . This map shows the Old Hall set to the north of the market square in what is probably a walled enclosure. The Hall appears to have an E shaped plan with central, storeyed porch and gabled wings to east and west, although the faded quality of the map means that an H-shaped plan form cannot be completely dismissed.

Both the RCHM and Elizabeth James (see Appendices I and II) have speculated on the arrangement and make up of an earlier medieval hall at Snettisham, of which nothing visible now remains. Both have also suggested an early 17 th century arrangement for the layout of the present hall based on site survey work and building typology. The research carried out for this conservation assessment would confirm the general findings of James and RCHM but would make one small comment on the possible location of the ‘great hall’ fireplace. RCHM suggest that the early house consisted of a ‘ central block containing a hall, a porch entering into this, and cross wings ’13 . On the south front there is a high degree of uniformity to what remains of the carstone masonry and brick dressing of the main hall, porch and projecting wings, excepting that the windows and central stone work between them has been rebuilt at a later date. RCHM conjecture that the high end of the hall probably lay to the east of the entrance porch as the central block is slightly longer to the east than to the west. Traces of decorated plasterwork (since removed) in the first floor south east corner room, of early 17 th century date, also suggest that the east end was the location for the family apartments with a possible solar 14 . This would leave the west end of the central block housing the kitchen and offices. RCHM go on to comment that the original location for the fireplace in the great hall is unknown, but speculate that it may have been at the west end. However the pictogram of the Old Hall on the 1625 map indicates a central chimney stack to the main block strongly suggesting a fireplace on the north wall 15 .

Extract from the c.1625 map of Snettisham

9 James Op Cit. p.350 10 Norfolk Record Office (hereafter NRO) LEST/OB4/1 11 James Op Cit. 12 NRO LEST/OB4/1 13 RCHM Snettisham Old Hall, Snettisham, Norfolk – report of an inspection visit dated November 1978. 14 James Op Cit. The painted plasterwork has been photographed and images are held at King’s Lynn Museum 15 The existing 17 th century fireplace is known to have been re-erected in its present location in c.1980. It is not suggested that this fireplace represents the original location of the ‘great hall’ chimney. 29

Abutting the south west corner of the Old Hall, the 1625 map depicts a short building range which has been incorporated into the much longer west service wing seen today. This range appears to have been entered through a doorway at the north end of the east front, where traces of a chamfered brick doorway and arch remain. Although not strongly evident in the fabric, the range may have been extended to the south in the mid 17 th century and a date stone of 1652 is embedded in the wall on the east front. Brickwork for the bottom half of a window can also be seen to the south of this date stone. Archaeological evidence for a cess pit immediately north of the hall/service wing junction which contained material from the 17 th and early 18 th century’s must mean that the northern section of the current west wing is probably of mid 18 th century date (but certainly post early 18 th century).

Photograph showing the former 17 th century doorway at the junction of the Hall and west service wing.

The 1652 date stone may also commemorate the creation of the Dutch gables on the south front of the hall as these are not shown in 1625 and although locally built examples were being made in the 18 th century they seem somewhat old fashioned for works that might have been undertaken by the Styleman’s in the early 18 th century.

The 1625 map also shows an L shaped arrangement of outbuildings to the north west of the hall in a similar position to the current stables and coach house of today. Both the existing stable and coach house buildings post date 1625, but the west wall of the coach house does show at least three different phases of development. This map would therefore indicate that the stables and coach house have older foundations or origins that the current buildings suggest. A further building range is depicted to the south west of the hall. This range, which has an east-west orientation is shown adjacent to the boundary wall, although its exact location in the landscape today is slightly conjectural.

The early 17 th century grounds around the Old Hall are only depicted in a schematic way, although the map strongly suggests that an entrance court existed to the south with a gateway on the central alignment with the two storeyed porch. A further rectangular enclosure is shown to the north of the hall, at the north west corner of which is a pond.

Eighteenth Century Developments under Nicholas and Armine Styleman

Records for the exact dates of ownership of the estate and Old Hall are somewhat confused in the early 18 th century. The estate seems to have been mortgaged twice in the early 18 th century to Dame Jane Smith in 1703 and again to another Robert Stileman in 1706. It was finally conveyed in 1710 to Nicholas Styleman of Snettisham, eldest son and heir of Robert, for £1,000 16 . What is certain, however, it that between 1710 and 1835 Old Hall was occupied by the Styleman family (later known as the Styleman Le Strange family)

The most significant owners in the first half of the 18 th century were Nicholas (d.1746) and his wife Armine Styleman (d.1768). Nicholas Styleman married Armine L’Estrange, sister of Sir Henry L’Estrange of Hunstanton in 1720 and the initials of the couple are recorded on hopper heads on the south and east sides of the Old Hall dated 1737 and 1734 respectively.

16 James Op Cit. referring to title deeds held in the NRO (see Le Strange Document C14). 30

Photograph showing south elevation hopper head dated 1737

The Norfolk Record Office contains a written record of an oral history handed down through the Styleman family from Armine’s time 17 . This memoir, written by Armine’s great granddaughter, clearly states that Armine married Nicholas in Hunstanton Church on the 16 February 1720 and goes on to say ‘.. we immediately took up our home life at Snettisham in the recently rebuilt hall there ..’. This account is important as it indicates that extensive works were taking place to the Old Hall around 1720. This could include the northern extension of the west wing and northern additions to the cross wings of the hall itself. The dated hopper heads of 1734 and 1737 (see photograph below) may, therefore, record the final period of early 18 th century improvements.

Deduction as to what changes were made to the hall in the 18 th century mostly comes from the fabric of the building itself. James 18 has proposed that these developments included the addition of the northern sections on the east and west wings, the insertion of sash windows into the main elevations, especially the south front, and works to the south west service wing. Much of her assessment of the fabric was aided by seeing the building during its conversion to a care home in the late 20 th century when brick and stone walling was exposed. This conversion resulted in the cladding of many of the internal walls with plaster board so the findings cannot be verified although there seems no reason to doubt them.

While many of the window openings in the hall and the west service wing appear to date from the 18 th century, not all sash windows date from this period. Some of the windows, including a number which face into the south courtyard, have sash horns, a feature which is indicative of a latter period rather than that of the 1720s and 30s. Assessment of photographs taken during the halls conversion into a Sue Ryder Home suggests that a number of window openings were blocked up at that time and there is a high correlation between windows with horns and those blocked up in the 1978 – 80 photographs.

While the northern extensions to the east and west wings are probably of the 18 th century there are distinct differences between their north elevations. The west wing shows some variation of carstone courses and has different sized brickwork to the quoins of the wall tops and roof line than the rest of the gable wall, suggesting an 18 th century wall which has been modified over the years. The east wing also shows some changes in the brick quoins, but is much more uniform than its counterpart with little or no disruption of the stonework to accommodate the windows. The east side roof pitch of the gable also meets the chimney stack at a higher level suggesting than the pitch has been modified to accept the 19 th century alterations on the east front. In combination these differences suggest that the east wing north gable has been rebuilt or refaced at a later date to the other and may be a near contemporary of the later works on the east front (see below).

17 The history was written in the 19 th century by Jamesina Waller from oral traditions and family accounts dating back to Armine Styleman’s time. NRO MS 21220, T140C 18 James Op Cit. 31

East (left) and west (right) gable walls on the north elevation.

Internally the hall retains some 18 th century panelling in the first floor south west corner rooms, above the kitchen. This panelling is of historic interest to the hall, but clearly dates from different periods and may have been reset in this room at some uncertain date.

Outside the hall, the stables may also have been works of redevelopment carried out by Nicholas and Armine Styleman. Given the later family history of the estate it seems much more likely that the high quality stable block dates from the 1720 - 30s period of redevelopment at the Old Hall, rather than the mid 18 th century date put forward in the list description (which is presumably based on stylistic grounds). If the stables are early 18 th century, it would also lend weight to the theory that the Dutch gables are mid or late 17th century, rather than works undertaken by the Styleman’s, as these would be out of character with the more up to date rebuilding of the stables.

South elevation of the Stables.

Later Eighteenth Century Changes

Nicholas and Armine had two sons, Nicholas II (1721 – 88) and a younger son Armine (1727 – 1803) . Nicholas II was to inherit the Snettisham Estate after his fathers death in 1746, while his brother Armine, became Rector of Ringstead in 1754 and eventually settled a t Hunstanton Hall (sometime after 1760).

It is suggested in some of the historical records that Nicholas II was free and easy with his money and had to resort to mort gaging the estate on at least one occasion 19 . It is known, for example, that his life style on inher iting the estate, proved too excessive for his mother who left Snettisham for Hunstanton shortly after 1746. However, Nicholas was also one of the main landowners to be active in the first enclosure of common lands in the parish in 1766.

In 1760 Sir Henry L’Estrange of Hunstanton died childless and that estate was divided between his two sisters, Armine Styleman and Lady Lucy Astley of Melton Constable. Nicholas and Armine’s younger son, the Rev. Armine Styleman then made Hunstanton Hall his home until h is death in 1803 20 .

The general layout of the Old Hall and grounds is recorded in some detail on the 1766 Enclosure Award Map for the parish 21 . This map shows many elements which are consistent with the earl ier estate plan of c.1625 and would therefore seem t o confirm the accuracy of this early map. The 1766 map shows the Old Hall set back from the road with a west service wing extending from level with the property south to the boundary wall. The length of the west wing could be taken as cartographic licence on an enclosure map, but the same arrangement is repeated on an estate map of 1820, strongly suggesting that a much long er west range existed at that time than does today. It is possible that this extended wing dates from 1652, as commemorated by the date stone mentioned above, t he wing having subsequently been truncated.

Extract if the 1766 Map showing Old Hall and its grounds.

To the north west of the Old Hall a V or L shaped arrangement of service buildings is indicated , similar to that shown in 1625 , and matching the arrangement of stables and coach house today. It is probable that the Enclosure Map shows the rebuilt 18 th century stables seen today. As the ranges are drawn extending as far as the Lynn Road it is possible that the coach house range once extended further to the north than it does today. Given the classical 18 th century symmetry of the stables, it seems unlikely that this building had a further bay or bays to the west.

19 James Op Cit. Nicholas mortgaged Snettisham in 1769 to a Robert Styleman who was almost certainly a close relative. 20 James Op Cit. 21 NRO LEST/BO1 33

The Enclosure Map also shows the first depiction of a landscape pattern which remains traceable throughout the later history of the site, although the degree to which individual elements survive is variable. Given the arrangement of the buildings, it seems probable that the main carriage entrance to the site was in the boundary wall due south of the Old Hall. A secondary entrance may have existed to the south west, allowing access to the stables and service wing.

South east of the Old Hall the 1766 map shows a group of village cottages screened by a belt of tree and shrub planting. To the north of the Old Hall lie wooded grounds which give way to a curving woodland belt. The map does not depict the landscape of the pleasure grounds or gardens in detail, but it would be reasonably safe to assume that kitchen gardens, informal lawns and pleasure ground walks existed in this area. To the north east is an open area of ground made up of pasture fields which probably then, and certainly later, served as a small park for the hall.

Nicholas II died in 1788 and was succeeded by his brother Armine, although the latter chose to remain at Hunstanton. This left Snettisham as a secondary estate which probably became the residence of Armine’s eldest son Henry (1755 – 1819).

Henry Styleman’s Improvements in the Early 19 th Century

Henry Styleman was a close friend of Thomas Coke of Holkham and may well be the Mr Styleman quoted widely in Arthur Young’s General View of Agriculture of the County of Norfolk which was published in 1804. As an energetic and socially aware man, Henry appears to have devoted his time to improvements on the estate in general and to the Old Hall in particular.

Between 1800 and 1802 the second enclosure award took place in the parish and Henry received 211 of the 600 acres enclosed 22 . Henry’s first wife, Ann Greg, died in 1807, but he married again in 1809 to Emilia Preedy and they had a son, Henry II in 1815, and a daughter Emilia (born 1813) 23 . When Henry died in 1819 his wife was pregnant again with Armine, who was born later in the year.

At the Old Hall considerable works seem to have been undertaken between c.1800 and 1835. Both Elizabeth James and RCHM 24 have speculated on the exact date of these works, but it seems clear that Henry Styleman (1755 – 1819) is the most likely candidate for masterminding the developments, which would confine the remodelling to between c.1800 and 1819. RCHM suggest slightly differing times for some works, but all must be before c.1835 when the family moved permanently to Hunstanton Hall. As Henry’s son was born in 1815 and would have been only 4 years old in 1819 it appears unlikely that he would have carried out the works. It is possible that Emilia continued large works between 1819 and 1835 which could be confirmed by the 1820 survey showing the hall with projecting wings on the north front, suggesting that the infill here post dates 1820 (see map over page).

Whoever was responsible, the main works in the early 19 th century included updating the Old Hall and increasing the size of the building. Principally this included remodelling the east wing which incorporated a large, two storey bowed bay – clearly created to afford fine views across the gardens to the east and the parkland to the north-east (a feature possibly dating from this period). A new entrance hall was also created by subdividing the former ‘great hall’ at the east end and infilling on the north front between the east and west wings. This later work incorporated the creation of a new staircase off the new entrance hall with a service stair at the west end. The works do not appear to be of one continuous programme, but a series of related works aimed to achieve a final remodelling. Minor alterations were also undertaken to the central storeyed porch on the south front.

For the works to the east wing, RCHM have noted that the outer north east wall, which is entirely of brick, predates the remodelling of the interior and of the south part of the wing. This division of the work is clearly demonstrated by the vertical butt joint on the east front. RCHM 25 go on to suggest that this work may be of c.1800 and therefore may provide some dating guidance on the re-facing of the north elevation of the east wing mentioned above. At a slightly later date (between 1800 and 1819) the bow fronted bay was inserted on the south east corner of the east wing. The dividing wall between the north and south rooms of the east wing is probably contemporary with the bay as the wall appears to be a continuation of this building work. The remaining internal decoration, mostly consisting of ornate and moulded cornices also seems contemporary with the bay. This work may also have resulted in a change in the floor levels throughout the east wing.

22 NRO C/Sca2/265 Snettisham Enclosure Award 1800. Covering land to the west of the village. 23 James Op Cit. 24 See Appendix I for copies of the RCHM and Elizabeth James reports. 25 RCHM Op Cit. 34

Extract from 1820 Estate Map showing the Hall with projecting north wings.

The infill on the north elevation between the wings created a series of rooms on ground and first floor. Of these rooms the m ain staircase has retained much of its original character, with cast iron balusters under a mahogany handrail for the stairs and a vaulted plaster ceiling. Both this and the service stairs are lit by tall sash windows under round headed arches. A similar window is set on the first floor of the central porch on the south front. Here there is a distinct change in the carstone walling su ggesting the porch was raised to accommodate the window. Internally the porch now also cuts across the historic roof line, again suggesting that the porch was raised.

It is not known who was responsible for the design and execution of the works at Old Ha ll. Archive records only record one builder associated with the works, noting that in c.1817 Henry Styleman engage d the builder Richard Egmore . Pevsner attributes the remodelling of the east part of hall including the new entrance bay to this commission 26 although the archive record does not provide any detail to confirm or deny this suggeston.

End of an Era

Following the death of his father in 1819, Henry II (1815 -1862), who adopted the rather elaborate name of Henry L’Estrange Styleman Le Strange (by 1839), appears to have immediately commissioned a survey of his estates at Snettisham. An estate map (see above) was produced by James Utting of Lynn Regis in 1820 and depicts the Old Hall and its setting in schematic form 27 . Although of a small scale the 1820 m ap is the first to show the Old Hall having projecting cross wings to the north at both east and west ends, although existing fabric would suggest th at they were in place long before this date. The plan does , however, repeat the arrangement of an extended south west wing running to the boundary wall as first shown on the Enclosure Map of 1766. A different arrangement is shown for the outbuildings to the west with the stable block depicted a s a separate building and a second independent range along the bound ary wall in the south west.

The survey is also schematic in terms of landscape details, although the same general layout from the mid 18 th century has been maintained. Wooded pleasure grounds and a curved woodland belt lie to the north . To the north east of the Old Hall is a partly enclosed area of open parkland while t o the east and south east the grounds are confined by village properties.

Soon after coming of age Henry II moved to Hunstanton in c.1835/6 28 . He seems never to have returned to Snettisham and the Old Hall is recorded as being unoccupied in county directories of 1845 29 .

Over the course of the next decade or so the Old Hall seems to have experienced periods of being unoccupied in between being let to tenants. For example in 1854 a Mr Caldwell is recorded as living at the Hall, presumably as a tenant. However, by 18 64 Henry II’s mother, Mrs Emilia Styleman (d.1874) was again living at Old Hall30 with a Captain William Campbell, believed to be her son-in-law, also resident.

Although Mrs Styleman is recorded as living at the hall in 1864 it is clear that t he family connections to Snettisham were dwindling through the second half of the 19 th century. It is not surprising, therefore, to find the estate was put up for sale in 1865 31 . The Sales Particulars are of some

26 Pevsner Op Cit 27 NRO MF/RO 490/8 28 Williamson, T (1998) The Archaeology of the Landscape Park: Garden Design in Norfolk, c.1680 – 1840 . BAR Series 268 p.252 -3 29 Whites Directory of Norfolk 1854 held at the Norfolk Heritage Library 30 Whites Directory of Norfolk 1864 held at the Norfolk Heritage Library 31 NRO HEA 386, 254x6 35 interest since they list the main rooms of the hall, the service ranges and a brief description of the gardens. The hall is described as having an ‘entrance hall, with fire-place: drawing room…enriched cornice…with bow and three windows looking into the Pleasure Grounds; small drawing room or library; dining room; study ’ while on the first floor were the ‘ best bed room with bow window and dressing room adjacent; seven bed rooms and three dressing rooms …’ Domestic offices are also listed together with the coach house, stables, brew house, cow house, piggeries and yard.

Extract from the 1865 Sales Particulars.

A walled kitchen garden was located to the north of the stables being described as well stocked with fruit trees, two graperies, potting and tool sheds. A small park studded with trees is mentioned and the sales details draw attention to the two main pleasure ground walks, one to the east leading to the parish church and a second through the woods to the north. The latter clearly led to a summerhouse which was situated in such a position to ‘allow views out to the German Ocean ’ as it was described.

The map of the grounds attached to the sales particulars is fascinating and provides the first clear detail of the arrangement of the gardens. One peculiarity of the map is the fact that the southern boundary wall appears to be much closer to the Hall than it is today with a central gateway opposite the hall entrance and a curving drive to the east. This variation may be a cartographic error as the extant wall, although much altered, appears to be in part 17 th or 18 th century. The other interesting feature of the sales map is that it provides the first evidence for the east-west range at the southern end of the stable yard.

A mid 19 th century photograph of the hall is held by the local studies library in Norwich 32 . This image, which was possibly taken around the time of the 1865 sale, shows the south front of the hall from the south east. While the general arrangement of the hall is similar to today, the photograph does show a veranda between the central porch and the projecting east wing. There is no porch in front of the current entrance hall, which means this structure post dates the mid 19 th century, in its present location. Interestingly the photograph also shows a door case with Doric columns around the French doors to the central, storeyed porch. There is a distinct similarity between this doorcase and the south front of the current entrance porch, than it seems likely the one was taken to use for the other.

The original sale of the estate seems to have been unsuccessful as in 1871 further sales particulars were prepared for Old Hall 33 . To all intents and purposes, these later sales particulars match those of 1865. However, the details record that Mrs Styleman and Captain Campbell had moved out of the hall to ‘The Cottage’ at Snettisham. The hall was now let to Mrs Kunigunda Keppel and the lease would not expire until Michelmas 1875. At least half of the park was also tenanted by Captain Campbell.

The accompanying map does, however, provide more detail of the outline of the Old Hall and indicates that the single storey porch which is now used as the main entrance was now in place.

As a result of this 1871 sale by auction the Old Hall was sold by Hamon Le Strange to two Sedgeford farmers named Brown 34 .

Sir Edward Green and the Late 19 th Century Alterations

32 www.library.norfolk.gov.uk 33 NRO LEST/NM2 34 James Op Cit. 36

The Browns may have purchased the estate as a speculative venture since there is no evidence that they lived there. In 1877 the Hall was bought by Sir Edward Green, who immediately began to build Ken Hill (completed 1881) or Snettisham New Hall as it was called. It is possible that the Old Hall was intended to act as a dower house for his mother Lady Green, but she died before the works to the Ken Hill were completed. When he moved into his new house, Sir Edward retained ownership of Old Hall, which he let. In White’s County Directory for 1883 Mrs Keppel is once again named as tenant 35 .

As the hall was tenanted and Sir Edward was busy building Ken Hill, it would be natural to assume that not works took place at Snettisham. However, some minor changes to the Hall and grounds were undertaken in the late 19 th century which may have been implemented by Sir Edward Green before his move to Ken Hill. Most of these changes are shown on the OS first edition of 1890/1. The general arrangement of the Hall and outbuildings remains as shown in 1871, but a new extension had been added to the north front and part of the ground floor wall taken away to create what is believed to have been a dining room. Windows in the north gable of the west service wing and some of the windows on the west front of this range also appear to have been replaced in the late 19 th century.

OS 6” First Edition showing Old Hall and grounds 1890/1.

To the west, curved walls were built at the north and south of the east side of the stable yard where an off-centre pond is show on the 1890/1 map for the first time. A small extension has been added to the east side of the stables and it may have been as part of this work that the east gable wall of the stables themselves was rebuilt. The physical evidence of the fabric also suggests that the coach house was substantially remodelled to nearly its present form in the last quarter of the 19 th century.

Map evidence suggests that the main entrance drive was also moved between 1871 and 1891. By the time of the later map the drive swept in from the south west corner to a carriage turn in front of the hall, replacing the gateway due south of the hall. In the pleasure grounds the summerhouse to the north of the hall had been removed and a square lawn had been laid out, cutting into the natural land form on the north and east sides. The main walks to the north and the east remained unaltered, as did the screen planting in front of the cottages to the south east of the hall. However, the east walk, which formerly led to the church was truncated, to ends at the village hall.

Old Hall in the 20 th Century

The layout of the Hall and grounds remained largely unaltered by the time the second edition OS map was produced in 1905. The one change appears to be the extension of the range at the southern end of the stable yard so that it spanned from the hall across to the western boundary. An additional area of kitchen garden may also have been created by 1905 along the northern boundary. This area appears to have been taken in from woodland or orchard in the late 19 th century.

35 Whites Directory of Norfolk 1883 37

Extract from the OS 25” 1905

Entries in a series of county directories seem to confirm an uncertain future for the Old Hall in the late 19 th and early 20 th century. While Sir Edward Green remained the owner, the building is sometimes recorded as being unoccupied and sometimes tenanted, as in 1908 when it was occupied by a Walter Hardy Esquire 36 .

With the outbreak of World War I the Old Hall, like many other country houses, was requisitioned for use by the army. After the war the Hall was bought by General Sir Peter Strickland KCB KBE CMG DSO JP who was recorded as living at the hall in 1937 37 . General Sir Peter was the longest serving colonel in the Royal Norfolk regiment and was stepfather to Lady Billa Harrod, founder of the Norfolk Churches Trust 38 . General Sir Peter died in the 1940s but his widow Lady Strickland remained at Old Hall until her death in 1977.

Under the Strickland’s period of ownership further minor changes to the Hall and its landscape setting were implemented as shown by the OS 25” edition of 1940 39 . The southern range in the stable yard has again been reduced to its original size. An addition to the east side of the coach house has also been made. More significantly the main entrance into the grounds has been moved to its current location south of the west service wing. Lady Strickland was the last private owner of the Hall before the Sue Ryder Nursing Home. Sue Ryder Care Home occupied the Hall from the late 1970s until 2006.

36 Kelly’s Directory of Norfolk 1908 p.440 37 Kelly’s Directory of Norfolk 1937 38 James Op Cit. 39 OS map series held at the Norfolk Heritage Library 38

Extract from OS 25” 1940.

Originally conversion to a residential care home took place between 1978 and 1980. During this conversion most of the fabric was stripped back and Elizabeth James’ article was produced as a result of the findings. The Sue Ryder Care Home also changed the setting of the Hall, adding a paved area to the north and paving and raised beds to the south and east. A more formal brick retaining wall was built on the south and west sides of the lawn to the north of the Hall which was further divided from the pleasure grounds to the north by a conifer hedge. Internally the Hall was subdivided into a number of different rooms using stud and plaster board walls. This is especially true on the upper floors and in the service wing where toilets, staff accommodation and nursing facilities were created. The southern range in the stable yard also appears to have been largely gutted and refitted at this time with 20 th century casement windows in the south wall and all exposed timbers in the mono pitched roof appearing to be of a similar date.

Other additions to the Hall in this period include the conservatory on the west side of the stable yard, which is a modern structure of ubiquitous design. A further porched entrance was added to the late 19 th century dining room on the north side of the hall.

Over the course of the 20 th century the landscape around Old Hall as fallen into divided ownership. This has resulted in a rash of young willow, ash and sycamore growing up along the ditch between the pleasure grounds and the former parkland, curtailing views from the Hall to the north east. Along the former east walk to the village hall further land was sold off to the public house and a car park created immediately to the east of the current site boundary. This sale and the subsequent creation of the car park severed all links between the Hall and the village further east.