Ufford Hall
Encyclopedia
Ufford Hall is a Grade II* listed manor house in Fressingfield
, Suffolk
, England, dating back to the thirteenth century.
The Hall has attracted the attention of architectural historians, such as Pevsner
and Sandon, and has been described as the “ultimate development (…) of the early hall house.” Its most noteworthy features include: cross-beamed ceiling in the parlour which has not been disturbed since the late fifteenth century or early sixteenth century; striking original sixteenth century mullioned and transomed windows; back-to-back stuccoed fireplaces on both floors and chimney stacks of Tudor origin; fine Jacobean dog-leg staircase with turned balusters and newel posts with ball finials. The latter is the last major addition to the house, which remains largely unaltered from the original.
Ufford Hall takes its name from its owner at the time of Edward I, Robert de Ufford, father of the 1st Earl of Suffolk
(2nd creation). It was subsequently acquired by Henry de Sancroft and remained with the Sancroft family until the eighteenth century.
Perhaps its most notable owner was Dr. William Sancroft
, the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury
, who was born there in 1617. Prior to his elevation to the archbishopric, Sancroft had served as Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
, as well as Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral during the Great Fire of London and had supervised its reconstruction by Sir Christopher Wren. As Archbishop, he attended Charles II
upon his deathbed and crowned James II
in 1685. Following the Revolution of 1688
, Sancroft felt unable to swear allegiance to William of Orange while James II still lived and was consequently deprived of his office in 1690. Despite his many responsibilities, Sancroft often returned to the quiet solitude of Ufford Hall in Fressingfield which has been aptly described as his "Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises
". He retired to Ufford Hall in 1691 and died there in 1693.
In the eighteenth century, Ufford Hall was acquired from the Sancrofts by Sir John Major (1698–1781), 1st Baronet. It remained in the family of his descendant, Lord Henniker, until 1918 when it was sold at auction. Ufford Hall was most recently owned by descendants of the Barrett-Lennard Baronets
.
Fressingfield
Fressingfield is a small village in Suffolk, England, east of Diss, Norfolk. It has a population of over 900, with two shops a medical centre and three churches, with Anglican, Baptist and Methodist congregations. Fressingfield once had five public houses...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England, dating back to the thirteenth century.
Description
Ufford Hall is a fine example of the timber-framed manor house, incorporating the medieval core of an earlier open-hall house. It is located on the outskirts of Fressingfield, a small village in Suffolk (population 900), which is 12 miles east of Diss, Norfolk and the A140, and a short drive from the coast at Southwold. At least twenty raised-aisled houses have been identified in the area, "forming a characteristic group, rarely found elsewhere in England". The house is approached by a tree-lined drive and stands on a once fully moated site, of which two substantial arms remain to this day. It “is perhaps best glimpsed in summer when the sun is shining on the south front, with its rosy ochre coloured plaster walls and dark tiled roof”.The Hall has attracted the attention of architectural historians, such as Pevsner
Pevsner
Pevsner is a surname, and may refer to:* Antoine Pevsner , a Russian sculptor* Sir Nikolaus Pevsner , a German-born British scholar of the history of architecture;** ....
and Sandon, and has been described as the “ultimate development (…) of the early hall house.” Its most noteworthy features include: cross-beamed ceiling in the parlour which has not been disturbed since the late fifteenth century or early sixteenth century; striking original sixteenth century mullioned and transomed windows; back-to-back stuccoed fireplaces on both floors and chimney stacks of Tudor origin; fine Jacobean dog-leg staircase with turned balusters and newel posts with ball finials. The latter is the last major addition to the house, which remains largely unaltered from the original.
History
Earl of Suffolk
Earl of Suffolk is a title that has been created four times in the Peerage of England. The first creation, in tandem with the creation of the title of Earl of Norfolk, came before 1069 in favour of Ralph the Staller; but the title was forfeited by his heir, Ralph de Guader, in 1074...
(2nd creation). It was subsequently acquired by Henry de Sancroft and remained with the Sancroft family until the eighteenth century.
Perhaps its most notable owner was Dr. William Sancroft
William Sancroft
William Sancroft was the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury.- Life :Sancroft was born at Ufford Hall in Fressingfield, Suffolk, son of Francis Sandcroft and Margaret Sandcroft née Butcher...
, the 79th Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, who was born there in 1617. Prior to his elevation to the archbishopric, Sancroft had served as Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College, Cambridge
Emmanuel College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge.The college was founded in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay on the site of a Dominican friary...
, as well as Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral during the Great Fire of London and had supervised its reconstruction by Sir Christopher Wren. As Archbishop, he attended Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
upon his deathbed and crowned James II
James II
James II may refer to:* James II, Count of La Marche , King Consort of Naples* James II , the second EP by Mancunian band James* James II of Aragon , King of Sicily...
in 1685. Following the Revolution of 1688
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, Sancroft felt unable to swear allegiance to William of Orange while James II still lived and was consequently deprived of his office in 1690. Despite his many responsibilities, Sancroft often returned to the quiet solitude of Ufford Hall in Fressingfield which has been aptly described as his "Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises
Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
Colombey-les-Deux-Églises is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.The municipality Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises was created administratively in 1793, and it became part of the district of Chaumont and the canton Blaise. In 1801, under the name Colombey, it passed to the...
". He retired to Ufford Hall in 1691 and died there in 1693.
In the eighteenth century, Ufford Hall was acquired from the Sancrofts by Sir John Major (1698–1781), 1st Baronet. It remained in the family of his descendant, Lord Henniker, until 1918 when it was sold at auction. Ufford Hall was most recently owned by descendants of the Barrett-Lennard Baronets
Barrett-Lennard Baronets
The Barrett-Lennard Baronetcy, of Belhus in the County of Essex, is a title in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 30 June 1801 for Thomas Barrett-Lennard, subsequently Member of Parliament for Essex South. He was the illegitimate son and testamentary heir of Thomas...
.
External links
- http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-279983-ufford-hall-fressingfield
- http://www.onesuffolk.co.uk/FressingfieldPC/Villagehistory/WilliamSancroft.htm
- http://www.midsuffolk.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/85DD99AA-269B-472F-92AD-DDE87C762FDC/0/FRESSINGFIELD.pdf
- http://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/about/famous/index.cfm?id=6
- http://www.thegloriousrevolution.org/docs/williamsancroft.htm