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| Monument Name |
Hill Hall |
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| SMR Number |
143 |
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| Summary |
According to RCHM, in the north range of the present house, there is 14th century stained glass-a flower design and a girl's head. |
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| Description |
According to RCHM, in the north range of the present house, there is 14th century stained glass-a flower design and a girl's head. <1> Provisional analysis of the documentary evidence, the standing structure and the results of a small excavation undertaken in 1978 suggests that a house was built, probably by the Hampden family in the first half of the 16th century. <2> Limited excavation in the west range of the later house indicated a complex building sequence beginning probably in the 15th century. The earliest structures were timber-framed, with cills set on tile plinths or direct on make-up, on an alignment about 10 degrees east of the present building. One wall is on the later alignment and may represent a refronting rather than a reconstruction of the earlier buildings. There was an even earlier predecessor, probably further down the slope, indicated by residual 13th century pottery. <3> Additional ref <4>
The importance of Hill Hall lies in two features. Firstly it has some of the earliest clasiical decoration on any surviving building in Britain namely the columns and friezes on the exterior. secondly, a series of late 16th century wall paintings.
The origins of the Hall go back before the norman Conquest when it was owned by a Saxon called Godric. The first house was built on the same site in the early 13th century when the Manor of Theydon Mount was divided. In the Tudor period the mostly timber-framed manor was rebuilt by Sir Thomas Smith. Between 1567 and his death in 1577 the north and west ranges were rebuilt as were the other sides of the courtyard. The designs of Sir Thomas Smith were influenced by his time as Ambassador to France. In the late 17th century the great hall was remodelled. Around 1714 the east front was rebuilt and the interior behind it replanned. Various minor improvements were carried out during the remainder of the 18th century including in c.1730-1740 the installation of an oak main stair which was destroyed in the fire of 1969. In 1791 Humphrey Repton (a landscape gardener) produced one of his 'Red Books', recommending improvements to both house and grounds. Only part of the scheme was implemented. The Smith family sold the house in 1923. The gardens were improved under the direction of the architect Philip Tilden in the 1920's. He was responsible for the pavillion at the end of the swimming pool, and a now lost 'sunken garden' to the east of the house. During the war the house was used as a maternity home and then a billet for RAF Officers. From 1942, following land mine damage, the house was abandoned although the huts in the grounds continued in use. In 1947 it was acquired for conversion to a womens open prison. This opened in 1952. in 1969 the main building was gutted by fire. <5>
For a full report of Hill Hall and restoration following the fire see source <12>. |
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| Monument Type(s) |
HOUSE (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
HOUSE (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
HOUSE (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
WALL (Dated 1066AD to 1539AD)
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| Monument Class(es) |
CONJECTURAL EVIDENCE
STRUCTURE
SUB SURFACE DEPOSIT
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Period
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1066AD to 1539AD Medieval
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| Status |
Listed Building (EH) |
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| Administration Area |
THEYDON MOUNT, EPPING FOREST, ESSEX |
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National Grid Reference
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Square: TQ49NE
Ref: 489994 |
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| Finds |
POTTERY VESSEL (Dated 1066AD To 1539AD)
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| Events |
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Sherlock, D, IAM on SEP-1974
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Paterson, H, FMW on APR-1980
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Chant, K, FMW on FEB-1983
Hill Hall, Theydon Mount
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Allan, J E, IAM on JUN-1983
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Paterson, H, FMW in MAR-1988
Field visit to Hill Hall and Mount Hall by Paterson, H, FMW on JUL-1991
Proposed widening of the M25 an Archaeological Assessment
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Sources
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Desc Text : A Desk-based assessment of the impact of proposed redevelopment work on the archaeological remains (Brooks, Howard)
Desc Text : An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Essex (RCHME) Vol 2, p263 Dated : 1921
Desc Text : Essex:Theydon Mount, Hill Hall (Drury, PJ) Dated : 1982
Excavation report : `A Fayre House, Buylt by Sir Thomas Smith'.... (Drury, PJ) Vol 136, pp98-123 Dated : 1983
Mention : A Fayre House, Buylt by Sir Thomas Smith: the Development of Hill Hall, Essex (Drury, PJ) Dated : 1983
Aerial Photo : 4-2 (Rogers, P) Dated : 1985
Desc Text : Proposed widening of the M25 an Archaeological Assessment (Bennett, Alison) Dated : 1992
Map : NMP Cropmark Plot - 1:10,000 (Ingle, CJ, Strachan, D, Tyler, S and Saunders, H) Dated : 1993 - 2010
Aerial Photo : TQ4999/14/29 (NMR) Dated : 1994
Desc Text : Hill Hall (Gray, Richard) Dated : 1994
Monograph : Hill Hall a singular house devised by a Tudor intellectual (Drury, Paul and Simpson, Richard) Dated : 2009
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