Fincham Hall

Grade 2*

This is the Listed Building description

 Fincham Hall

Manor House. c.1500, remodelled late C16 and C19. Brick, clunch and ashlar dressings. Roofs of plain tiles. North front of 2-3 storeys. A composition of 3 gables with polygonal brick tower at north-east corner. Tower c.1500 : arched door to ground floor which is lit by cinquefoiled arched lights. Upper floor with arched lights below square hood moulds on labels. Machicolated cinquefoil frieze below string course and stepped battlemented parapet. Facade with renewed hollow chamfered 3 and 4-light cross casements of rendered brick. Blocked 2-light casement in west cross gable. C19 battlemented entrance porch between cross gables with arched entrance beneath square hood. To left early C17 blocked doorway : semi-circular arch flanked by fluted Ionic pilasters supporting entablature with finials, all in strapwork tradition. East wall with large stepped internal chimneybreast culminating in pair of renewed diamond flues. South front of C16 construction now studded irregularly with C19 sash windows with glazing bars. 3 C18 casements to east cross wing. One bay western addition of early C19 with sash windows and gabled roof. Interior. Screen truss remains, arch braced to heavy wall studs in western range. Bridging beams with tongue shops. Timbered screens passage now blocked by staircase. Roof structure renewed : C19 King post roof over main range; east cross wing with C18 butt purlins and collars.    

A watercolour of the Hall done in 1818 by John Sell Cotman for his work ‘Excursions in Norfolk.

Cotman was the leading figure in the Norwich School of painting.

The home of the Fincham family until 1572. The tower is of similar date to the first building of Oxborough Hall c 1480. The main block is considered 16th century – with 19th century windows. The right hand block is a 19th century addition built on a demolished structure perhaps mirroring the left hand side. This photograph was taken in 1901 by H W Fincham FSA. He contributed many photographs to a national collection. He took some photographs of St. Martin’s of a similar date.

A similar view

For a history of the Finchams who lived in the Hall see ‘The Lords of the Manor’

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