Summary : Chapelhill Farmhouse on the site of, and retaining some material from, the Friary of the Crutched Friars. Founded before 1274, when it was placed in the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr. Dissolved in 1538. A detached buttress of the chapel still stands at Chapelhill Farm, which was built on the site of the friary in the 16th century. The central range of the U-plan of the farmhouse was originally a narrow link between 2 short and equal ranges (the west range truncated in the 20th century); a narrow cloister, now altered, ran round the small court, linking with the flint-walled chapel of St Thomas the Martyr on its north side, of which only a buttress remains at the north-east corner of the house. |
More information : (TL 8871 5876) Chapelhill Farm (NAT) (1)
An interesting and picturesque 16th house built on the site of the house of Crutched Friars. To the E. lies one angle buttress and some flint wall, the detached remains of the chapel, and in the E wall of the house is more flint walling.Grade 2. (2-3)
A prior and convent of Crutched Friars, dependent on London, had been placed in the chapel of St Thomas the Martyr at Welnetham before 1274 and was dissolved in 1538. (4)
The house is now an outstanding private residence known as 'The Crutched Friars'. It is L - shaped in plan, part timber framing and part brick, and according to the occupier the timber work is the remains of the cloister.
Much of the brickwork on the S and E is of the 15-16thc and incorporates some flint walling and evidence of former buttresses. The isolated clasping buttress seems to have been the SE corner of the chapel which would have stood on the N side of the present house. Crow-stepped gables give evidence of later alterations and there is a modern addition on the S. See photos. (5)
House, formerly the priory of about 5 brothers of the Order of the Holy Cross of Welnetham, known as the Crutched Friars (founded c.1274, suppressed c.1536); c.1500, altered C16 and early C20. 2 storeys and attics. U-plan; timber- framed on the inward-facing sides of the U with plastered panels between exposed framing, the upper floor long-wall jettied. The outward-facing walls of red brick with areas of diaper-patterning in blue headers; crow-stepped gables with reset terracotta tiles having various motifs. Plaintiled roofs with gabled plaintiled dormers. Massive external chimneys of red brick. Windows with 3- and 4-centred arched heads, (some hood-moulded), moulded brick jambs and mullions; heavily restored early C20, with metal casements. 4 small 1 dormitory windows with trefoiled heads on the east side. Timber-framed cloister arcade on the inward-facing sides with 4-centred arches; infilled and glazed C16, restored C20. The central range of the U-plan was originally a narrow link between 2 short and equal ranges (the west range truncated C20); a narrow cloister, now altered, ran round the small court, linking with the flint-walled chapel of St. Thomas the Martyr on its north side, of which only a buttress remains at the north-east corner of the house. The present queen- post roof is probably a C16 rebuilding. A red brick and plain-tiled 1 storey extension on the south side, c.1970. |