Photo: West Stow Hall by Robert Edwards, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
West Stow Hall is a Grade I listed historic house in Suffolk, and a member of Historic Houses. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.
About West Stow Hall
Work began on West Stow Hall around 1520 for Sir John Croftes, Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII.
The house stands in the village of West Stow in Suffolk, a few miles from Bury St Edmunds.
Its diapered brickwork and tall polygonal turrets make it one of the more distinctive early Tudor gatehouses left in East Anglia.
The hall is privately owned, and public access is limited.
Read more on WikipediaHistory of West Stow Hall
The surviving building is thought to have formed the gatehouse and service range of a larger Tudor mansion, much of which was lost or remodelled in later centuries. Sir John Croftes, who commissioned the house, held the post of Master of the Horse at the court of Mary Tudor, Henry VIII's younger sister, which places the building firmly within Tudor court circles rather than purely local gentry.
Architecture of West Stow Hall
The house is built in diapered brick, a pattern of darker burnt headers set against red brickwork, a hallmark of high-status early sixteenth-century construction in Suffolk. Tall polygonal turrets flank the gatehouse range, a feature typical of Tudor gatehouses built to impress as much as to defend.
Worth knowing
Sir John Croftes' position as Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor ties the house to the Tudor royal court.
Plan your visit to West Stow Hall
Nearest station: Bury St Edmunds Rail Station (4.2 miles)
Places to visit near West Stow Hall
All Saints Church, Wordwell
View All Saints Church, Wordwell on heritage mapAll Saints Church, Icklingham
View All Saints Church, Icklingham on heritage mapBury St Edmunds Abbey
View Bury St Edmunds Abbey on heritage mapTheatre Royal
View Theatre Royal on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of West Stow Hall there are 3 historic properties, including 2 churchs, across Churches Conservation Trust and English Heritage sites.
Within 10 miles of West Stow Hall there are 12 historic properties, including 6 historic buildings, 4 churchs and 2 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.
Within 20 miles of West Stow Hall there are 39 historic properties, including 16 churchs, 12 historic buildings and 10 historic houses, across Churches Conservation Trust, Historic Houses and English Heritage sites.
Facts
A Tudor gatehouse built for a courtier to Henry VIII's sister, standing quietly in a small Suffolk village.
- Type
- historic house
- Location
- Suffolk, England
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