south_door

This south facing door is sited exactly opposite its identical north facing counterpart. This is a layout typical of all hall houses built mainly during the 15th century. The first end bay consisted of the solar, usually with further private accommodation above, followed by the main hall, open to the rafters, with its dias at the solar end and the two opposing doors at the other end. This 'great hall', as it was often known, was often protected from draughts from the two doors by a screen right across, or by part-screens either side. The corridor thus created is known as the 'screens passage' and from this two internal doors each lead into the buttery and pantry (the end service bay). The window in the photo below would have been where the end 'service' bay originally was.



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