Hanley Hall, Gilberts End, Worcestershire

In October 2013 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by Parr Walker and Associates on behalf of Mr and Mrs C. Cox of Hanley Hall to carry out an Historic Building Recording programme to English Heritage Level 3 at Hanley Hall as a condition of Listed Building Consent. The house can be divided into three structural units: central or hall range and south-east and north-west cross wings. Another was added to the south-east wing. These elements were all originally structurally independent of each other, but the hall range was dependent on these wings for support in its latest phase. Evidence for an earlier phase of the central range was noted, in the form of an open hall, again structurally self-contained, but possibly contemporary with the south-east wing. A 15th-century date is proposed for these early elements. The north-west wing is of different structural design, but is thought to date to not long after the other elements, perhaps early to mid 16th century. A floor was inserted into the open hall which matched that built integrally with the north-west wing. This is stylistically dated to the mid 16th century and was the occasion for the installation of the stack. The latter seems to have been rebuilt in its upper stages. It is suggested that a stair was inserted into the north-west end of this hall when the installation of an elaborate plaster ceiling in the north-west wing in the late 16th century demanded the provision of a new access to the first floor to replace that which much have existed in the north-west wing. Another block or wing was added to the south-east wing, in the early to mid 17th century. The stair was itself replaced in the earlier 19th century and other changes were made to update the house. These included the extension in brick of the north-west wing to the north-east, around 1830 and the replacement of much of the frame infilling in brick. Earlier episodes of frame infilling in brick were also identified. There is much panelling in the house, of many different designs, especially in G4 and 1.8. While this is all good 17th-century material, none of it seems to be in situ and is thought to have been brought from elsewhere in the mid 19th century. Some has been re-used as doors. Its installation probably post-dates the extension of the north-west wing and the truncation of G4. Sites have been tentatively identified for Dendrochronological sampling.