Site of demolished 16th century Weald Hall, Weald Park (EHER 19626)

House constructed around 1540-1550 with additions in 1560-1570. Alterations were carried out during the 18th century. The house was demolished in 1950-1951.

1994. Field Survey. Weald hall is believed to have been built on the site of earlier buildings, possibly the medieval manor house of south weald or a monastic grange. The hall was rebuilt in the 18th Century and remained with very little altering until the second world war. The surviving remains include all below ground features such as foundations, cellars and drains. Parts of a system of barrel vaulted brick drains are still accessible. The cellars are believed to have been infilled with rubble from the demolition of the building. Features such as a sunken bath are still visible as surface traces. The remains of the main body of the hall are currently covered by tarmac car parks and lawns. Part of the cobbling of the courtyard is still visible, while the western wing has had later sheds built over it. The brick drains are suffering from erosion due to the channelling of water through the brickwork. The foundations are though to have survived relatively undisturbed. The buried remains of the house are in a stable condition and are unlikely to deteriorate in the foreseeable future unless alterations including ground disturbance are made to the car park and surrounding area. Limited excavation of the surviving remains would add to the understanding of the development of the park from the medieval period onwards. Photographic recording of all accessible parts of the surviving remains of the 18th century hall should be undertaken before further erosion takes place and possible collapse of the drains. Once recording of the drains and other features has taken place it may be appropriate to consolidate the brickwork in order to prevent further deterioration. This would however be dependant on the relative importance of such remains and their interpretive potential <1> NRHE data transfer: The Hall (late 16th century and Queen Anne) is in course of demolition. <2> 1953. Field survey. East wing dates to 1540-1550 and the West wing is 1560-1570. The whole building is refaced and was much altered in the 18th century. The hall is totally demolished and only the modern outbuildings remain. <3> See also: <4> <5> <6> <7>