4.13 The Central Archaeology Service (2 of 7)
Prior's Hall, Widdington, Essex, conservation and management of Anglo-Saxon building
Prior's Hall lies within a scheduled moated enclosure and was originally best known architecturally for its magnificent fourteenth-century aisled barn. In 1988 the Inspector for what was then Properties in Care noted a blocked opening in the lower part of the east gable wall of the central stone-built section of the farmhouse, almost wholly concealed beneath the stairs of a later timber-framed extension. This opening proved to be a round-headed arch, with irregular, non-radial, voussoirs carried on plain imposts, with Escomb' fashion jambs, all composed of Barnack limestone. The arch, which was 1m wide and 2.52m high from the base of its plinth, was in a characteristic Anglo-Saxon style. The Central Archaeology Service recorded this feature in 1989 and carried out a watching brief during removal of the unstable render from the north face of the building. This showed that the main part of the farmhouse, aligned east west, was built from coursed flints, strengthened with long-and-short quoins, again in Barnack stone, that survived to eaves level at both corners. The presence of the arch suggested that there might have been a contemporary eastern structure and evidence for this was provided by a short length of masonry that formed the north side of the timber stair extension; a small test pit, dug on the projected line of this wall, revealed its robber trench. The opportunity was also taken to use radar to survey the building elevations and adjacent courtyard and garden, and oblique-angled photography on the walls. This two-cell linear structure of probable Anglo-Saxon or Saxo-Norman date was provisionally interpreted as a church with an extant nave, converted at a later date into an open hall, with a largely demolished chancel.
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In 1997 an application for scheduled monument consent was received for the construction of a garden room against the east end of the supposed 'nave'. The proposal involved the demolition or alteration of the various post-medieval lean-to structures, and ground disturbance for foundation work. It was felt that the scope of the investigative and recording work that would be appropriate to further understanding of this nationally important building could fall beyond that strictly required in the context of development control, and could place an over-onerous burden on a sympathetic private landowner. The Central Archaeology Service therefore carried out a field evaluation to assess the impact of the proposed work and to provide information for the formulation of an appropriate archaeological strategy, at the request of the Conservation Group Inspector of Ancient Monuments. This evaluation successfully characterised the sequence of deposition within the chancel', and demonstrated that it was likely to be rectangular in plan and that its wall footings survived along its south side. As a result the design for the wall footings of the new building was modified to allow the retention of the extant masonry. It was still necessary, however, to excavate within the 'chancel' in order to accommodate a new floor.
This work was seen as a useful opportunity to test our new recording procedures for building recording and also to continue with the deployment and assessment of the effectiveness of differing technologies for survey and recording. The excavation involved the removal of internal layers within the chancel' and the fills of its robber trench. The eighteenth-century timber-framed stair extension, the succession of lean-to buildings against the east gable wall of the nave, and a nineteenth-century brick-and-flint built boiler house were all recorded prior to demolition and alteration. This work fully exposed the east gable wall of the 'nave' for the first time, giving full access for the recording of the 'chancel' arch.
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A resistivity survey was carried out to complement the earlier radar survey, and endoscopy was used to examine the west face of the chancel' arch, otherwise hidden behind lath and plaster. The most fruitful remote sensing technique employed was infrared thermography. This indicated the presence of a blocked opening, concealed beneath external render, towards the west end of the south wall of the 'chancel'. This was confirmed when the render was removed and proved to be a gable-headed doorway with jambs laid 'Escomb-fashion', all composed of Barnack limestone.
The project is now moving into its assessment phase. The structural and stratigraphic evidence allows us to chart the development of the original Anglo-Saxon or Saxo-Norman building through alterations and additions to the present-day farmhouse. The documentary evidence identifies the changing status of the property as part of a Saxon manor, a monastic 'grange', an estate belonging to New College, Oxford, and finally a private farm. The analytical program is likely to focus on the identification of the function and status of the original building and its subsequent use within the medieval period. Although this building might have been a church, alternative possibilities do exist and will be considered.
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