Description

SO 86 SE NORTH CLAINES CP PORTER'S MILL

4/67 Mill Hall (formerly listed
as Porter's Mill)

25.12.52
GV II*

Shown on OS Map as the Manor House.
House. Probably mid-C16 with mid-C19 and early and mid-C20 alterations and
additions. Timber-framed, painted brick and rendered wattle-and-daub infill,
sandstone rubble plinth, plain tiled roof and 5 grouped, brick, star-shaped
ridge stacks to left of centre. Four framed bays on a west/east axis with
through-passage above lower east end bay. Two storeys and attic. Framing:
irregular; mainly 5 square panels from sill to wall-plate, long straight
braces in lower corners, attic at east gable end is jettied on a moulded
bressummer and curved brackets; collar and tie-beam trusses with queen struts
in gable ends; west gable end has 3 collars and a V-strut in apex, east
gable end has 2 collars. South front elevation: scattered fenestration,
windows have plank weatherings; ground floor has a 3-light and two tall 2-
light casements, and on the first floor are two 2-light and two 3-light casements;
mid-C20 gabled, timber-framed porch and part-glazed door to right of centre;
C16 studded door with wrought iron hinges at left end with coat of arms on
panel above. Attic lights in gable ends. West gable end: there are two 3-
light casements on the first floor in which some late C161/early Cl7 lattices
of glass quarries have been retained; a panel in the gable apex bears the
date "1503". Interior: roof has two pairs of trenched purlins; lower end
trusses have arch-braced collars with V-struts in apex, upper end tie-beam
truss has queen struts, two collars and a V-strut in the apex. The hall fire-
place is surmounted by plasterwork displaying the Royal coat of arms encircled
by the garter and flanked by Tudor roses and the initials "E R". The attic
room at the upper end of the house has an early Cl7 plaster ceiling, recently
repaired, and decorated with fleur-de-lys, fruit, crowns; a mermaid etc; the
walls are oak panelled and above the panelling are plaster lion's heads; the
fireplace has a carved overmantel, an elaborate mid-Victorian cast iron fire-
place and on the hearth are set a collection of C15 tiles; the C16 door into
the room has a Tudor-arched doorhead. Two rooms on the first floor have plaster
ceilings decorated with a vine leaf frieze. Mid-Cl7 open well staircase with
spiral balusters, ball finials on newel posts and moulded handrail. Main beams
are stop-chamfered; several C16 doors are retained. Mid-C19 and early and mid-
C20, two-storey extensions at rear. The house was built for John Porter, an
important clergyman, and it is believed that on August 14th 1578, Queen
Elizabeth I stayed at the house whilst visiting the Bishop of Worcester.
The house retains many good interior features dating from the Elizabethan
period to the mid-C17.

Listing NGR: SO8611060402

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17548895

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)