Site of 17th century manor house, Barrington Hall (EHER 4292)

The buried remains of a 17th century hall.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import: Barrington Hall (GT) Site of (ti). <1> <2> March 1950. Field survey. No building rubble at site as shown on Field Sheet although the uneven ground does suggest that this has been a building site. Situated in pasture. <3> <4> July 1973. Field survey. As described, a wide area of disturbed ground under pasture indicates that the published siting of the name is correct. Little Barrington Hall dates from the 17th century according to the farmer, and was possibly an outbuilding to the hall. <5> 2008. Survey. The original park is bounded by Pincey Brook to the west, by the Hatfield Broad Oak to Takeley road to the east, by Hatfield Broad Oak itself to the south and by farmland to the north and covers about 98 hectares. Most of this is now in separate ownership, and the area round the house (the subject of this report) covers about 12 hectares. The land falls gently to the lake, most of the parkland beyond is level but would have been visible from the house. The entrance from the village to the south, and its long avenue have disappeared under farmland. The present entrance, with a lodge, is from the north east corner of the park. The drive runs west before curving south. At this point there appears to be an amphitheatre of trees, part of a plantation on the north side. There is no cartographic evidence of this feature. The drive ends in a square area, enclosed by a yew hedge, in front of the house. The southern part of the drive is lined with London plane trees. There is a vast ancient oak pollard near the end of the straight section of drive, heavily burred and difficult to measure (girth approximately 30 feet). A second drive cuts diagonally across the curve, and may be of more recent date. The heavy neo-Jacobean exterior, with shaped gables, a roofline balustrade and a calculated asymmetry conceals the earlier 18th century structure. The service wing and stables to the east retain their largely 18th century form. The area north of the house is largely free standing timber and grass. The service wing is screened from the north entrance by a dense shrubbery on a low mound, planted with yew, laurel and unarmed holly. There is also a fine maple here (possibly Montpelier). At the other end of the building, a dog leg balustrade on a dwarf brick wall, in line with the north façade, runs west to screen the gardens to the south. Immediately to the east of the house is a newly planted aromatic garden, surrounded by a yew hedge. Further east is a small swimming pool. There is a narrow terrace against the south façade of the house with steps down at each end, and ornate iron railings in poor condition. The service wing on this side is partly hidden by a large magnolia. Further south, reached by steps on the axial line, is the remains of a long broad terrace running east to west, planted with a line of clipped Irish yew. The path follows the axial line, encircles the area where there was a central feature and then continues down a second set of steps towards the lake. An early 20th century photograph shows this as a broad gravelled walk. There is evidence on the ground of another feature between the second steps and the lake, but this does not seem to be present in the photograph, so may have been a later addition. The main terrace bulges south to enclose the main circular feature and there is evidence that it was edged with terracotta balustrading, relics of which are visible at the second set of steps, now partly hidden by an overgrown thuja hedge. The eastern part of the terrace bulges south to enclose the main circular feature and there is evidence that it was edged with terracotta balustrading, relics of which are visible at the second set of steps, now partly hidden by an overgrown thuja hedge. The eastern part of the terrace is in separate ownership, and could not be examined through a dense thuja hedge, but a large Wellingtonia and a large holm oak were noted. The mainly broad leaf tree belt to the west of the terrace, running down to the dam, included Wellingtonias, Scots pine and holm oak. There were three mature walnuts near the east end of the lake. The lake is an elongated tear shape, with the point to the east. At this end are the concrete abutments of an earlier bridge, and boat house on the north bank. The dam at the other end if the lake is shaped like an elongated omega, and the hydraulically pressed bricks (made by Riddings) which form the dam coping, suggest that it was rebuilt or repaired in the latter part of the 19th century. The lake, however, is a similar shape and position to that shown on 18th century maps. There are rendered brick statue plinths at each end of the dam. To the south of the lake is a sunken fence which may be an earlier feature. The park is in separate ownership and in agricultural use. It was not examined, though a scattering of mature oaks were noted south of the lake. <6> See also: <7>