Thorndon Old Hall, West Horndon

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameThorndon Old Hall, West Horndon
Alternative NamesWest Thorndon; West Horndon
Historic CountryEssex
Modern AuthorityEssex
1974 AuthorityEssex
Civil ParishBrentwood

Excavations have located the layout of the hall which was constructed in 1414, altered and extended between 1573-1590 and remodelled after 1734. The earliest house was reasonably small and moated, but by the mid 15th century it had been extended over the moat and converted into a large country house, represented now by massive brick foundations with butttresses and bastions. It was demolished in the mid/late 18th century and replaced by a new mansion to the north. Excavations have also revealed the remains of the gardens associated with the hall. Documentary evidence indicates that the site was first emparked in 1414. (PastScape ref. scheduling report)

Gatehouse Comments

Site not large enough to be C15 castle, was licenced, in 1414, as a crenellated park lodge of brick.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTQ624898
Latitude51.5839805603027
Longitude0.342460006475449
Eastings562410
Northings189820
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of East Anglia (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 41
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) (Shown on map of fortified houses of East Anglia)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 148
  • Buckley, D.G. in Couchman, C.R. (ed), 1976, Work Undertaken by Essex County Council Archaeology Section, 1974-76 Vol. 8 p. 180-182
  • RCHME, 1923, An inventory of the historical monuments in Essex Vol. 4 (south-east) p. 167 online transcription

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Marshall, K. in Wilson, D.M. and Hurst, J.G., 1959, 'Medieval Britain in 1958' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 3 p. 315 download copy
  • Marshall, K. in Wilson, D.M. and Hurst, J.G., 1958, 'Medieval Britain in 1957' Medieval Archaeology Vol. 2 p. 202 download copy
  • Marshall, K., 1958, Essex Naturalist Vol. 30 p. 214-5

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1916, Calendar of Charter Rolls 15 Edward III - 5 Henry V 1341-1417 Vol. 5. (HMSO) p. 467 online copy

Other

  • 24-FEB-2004 Scheduled Monument Notification