Medieval moat, barn and gatehouse at South Ockendon Old Hall (EHER 1863)

The remains of South Ockendon Old Hall comprise a substantial medieval moat and fish ponds, the remains of a medieval gatehouse and a substantial barn thought to date from the late 15th or early 16th century.

Medieval moat and fish ponds. <1> Hall, gatehouse, barn, moat, mill ponds. "The present house is modern, but, judging from the remains of the walling to the gatehouse which stands at the north east corner of the moat, the original house must have been a building of considerable importance". About 12m (40ft) of gatehouse outer wall stands, with remains of an entrance, approximately 3m (9.5ft) wide. It is 0.9m (3ft) thick and has two offsets. The lower part of the wall, to a height of approximately 6m (20ft), is of coursed Reigate stone, of medieval date. Across the moat, leading to the gatehouse, is a bridge-all modern except the lower part of the retaining wall on the west side (it is limestone-rubble). The barn is outside the north eastern corner of the moat. It has brick walls (the internal construction is timber). It is of 11 and a half bays, has side-aisles and two south, projecting porches. Built late in the 15th to early 16th centuries but the two easternmost bays are later. It has heavy, squared posts, braced main purlins and tie-beams, king-posts and central purlins below the collars. The moat surrounding the house, "is exceptionally large and well-preserved". The mill-ponds are "marked by three large shallow depressions in the ground". The south arm of the moat was probably also used as part of the mill. A wind-mill is now on the site. <2> <3> Manorial, complete, irregular. Fish-ponds, water and wind mills. Later divided into two manors. <4> <5> Sketch plan on back of MSRG card. <6> "The monument comprises a large, irregular, quadilateral moat, enclosing an area some 500ft by 300ft, and bridge, including a gatehouse". The lower part of the gatehouse outer wall is finely dressed ashlar, medieval. Only an orchard is left on the site of the former house "which was evidently of some importance". <7> <12> Site Management: Scheduled monument consent requested and granted to clean out the moat, repair a dam and return the moat to its original condition <7> <8> <9> Gatehouse and bridge listed. <10> <11> 1986. Watching brief. Watching brief in 1986 as a condition of Scheduled Monument Consent. Elevations and plans of gatehouse were drawn as part of this. The surviving fabric of the gatehouse is Reigate rubble with ashlar but the arch and wall above were rebuilt in brick in 17th or early 18th century. There were no architecturally diagnostic features to enable the stone structure to be dated. Post medieval brick buildings had been constructed against the inner face of the gatehouse, but it is possible that the stonework is only the façade to a timber-framed or brick gatehouse. The lower courses of stone continue to the N and seem to return along the north wall of the moat. 15th century brickwork north of the gatehouse may be later than the stonework and wall scars indicate at least two structures projected towards or over the moat, one perhaps representing a garderobe. It is also possible that there was a turret but further work would be needed to resolve this. Nothing is known about the original hall. South Ockendon was a Domesday Manor. The earliest reference records a grant to support a chaplain at the free chapel at the Hall between 1190-1225. Building accounts of 1318/19 mention a hall, kitchen, well and privy. C16 wills mention `the great dining chamber, middle chamber' and `gallery chamber'. One fragment of glazed floor tile was found in the moat. Moulded and rubbed bricks found in the core of the wall may be from decorative chimneys. A survey of 1691 shows a large, probably C17 house (see 1864). The archaeological and documentary evidence suggest the Hall was a wealthy and prestigious manor house. <12> - <17> Various notes and references in EHER. Also complete photo record of the gatehouse. <18> <19> Domesday records one mill and one beehive. <20> Photographed during MPP visit by S. Tyler, Aug 1999. <21> See also aerial photographs <22> - <26>. Site Assessment: Gatehouse in reasonable condition. <1> It is difficult to find parallels in Essex for the gatehouse but cartographic sources indicate comparable gatehouses once existed at Mascallsbury, White Roothing and at Thorndon Hall, West Horndon. <12> NRHE data import: Site of South Ockendon Hall. Exceptionally large and well preserved homestead moat surrounding site of South Ockendon Hall with remains of gatehouse in NE corner. Old Mill Pond lies to west. Hachures to south are remains of an old quarry. <2> As above; Gatehouse and moat in good condition respectively. The whole, correct as shown. <27>