Listed Building: CHOPPINS HILL HOUSE (279277)

CODDENHAM LOWER ROAD TM 15 NW 5/29 Choppins Hill House (formerly listed as 9-12-55 Choppins Hill Farmhouse) GV I House. Late C14. The standard of carpentry is high, and the use of fully- developed close-studding is rare in a demonstrably C14 building. The two-bay hall ahs contemporary 2-storey gabled cross-wings at either end. Timber-framed and platered; the solar wing to left has a jettied upper floor on thick knees. The service wing was also jettied formerly. Plaintiled roofs; an axial chimney of red brick in the hall range; and external chimneys to both cross-wings. The hall range has hipped plaintiled C20 casement dormers. Early C20 casements with leaded lights. Boarded and battened entrance door. The open truss in the centre of the hall is constructed as follows:- A chambered, formerly knee- braced, beam spans the building above head level. It supports a pair of arcade posts, from which rise curved arcade braces up to square-sectioned arcade plates. The posts are linked at mid-height to the aisle wall plates by short tie-beams, beneath which is (on one side) a pair of knees forming a 2-centred arach. The cambered main tie-beam has lost its braces but bears a short octagonal crownpost, moulded and with thick braces in the C14 manner. The twin service doorways are ogee-headed and hood-moulded, and enriched by carved fleurons. The blocked front cross-entry doorway is massive and has a 2-centred arched head. The dais beam at the upper end of the hall is embattled and has painted applied lead flowers; the adjacent blocked ogee-headed doorway was formerly screened from the dais by a spur. Both cross-wings have complete roofs with moulded octagonal crownposts; the solar wing has a further bay at the rear, with an original staircase tower. Studwork throughout is very closely spaced and windbracing is absent from internal faces. Fine splayed and tabled scarf joints with undersquinted and sallied butts. Circa 1600, a large central chimney and an upper floor were inserted into the hall; of this date is an ovolo-mullioned window in the hall and a small wing with newel stair. The tenement may have been held in the C14 by the Augustinian Priory of Royston; in 1408 it was known as Thedeward's, and he or a prveious tenant may have been the builder, funded by the Priory. Francis Chappine acquired the property in 1609, whnce derived its present name. An exceptionally fine example of a late C14 raised-aisled hall house, and possibly the most complete of the East Suffolk group. Listing NGR: TM1376255423