West Stow Hall, Near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
A Brief Introduction to West Stow Hall
West Stow Hall is believed to have been built by Sir John Croftes, Master of the Horse to Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France and Duchess of Suffolk. The current manor is the remains of an early sixteenth century, moated house and gatehouse. It was built on the site of an existing medieval building; the now infilled moat, which predates the current structure, attests to that fact. No trace of this earlier building survives.
The crowning glory of the manor is, without doubt, its magnificent, brick-built gatehouse. It is three-storeyed with polygonal turrets and was initially detached from the house, standing on the opposite side of the moat. In the late sixteenth century, the two were linked by a brick colonnade and rooms were added to create a continuous two-storey structure. Today, this forms a pleasant, shaded walkway beneath the upper floors, leading from the gatehouse to the hall’s main entrance. The present house was in use as a farmhouse in 1813 and was altered during the early nineteenth century. Nevertheless, many original Tudor features can still be seen.
Still a family home today, West Stow Hall welcomes guests (and their pets) to stay in its holiday cottages or as bed and breakfast guests. Set in acres of tranquil woods, streams and gardens, West Stow Hall is a time traveller’s dream. The charming Tudor manor house is within reach of several fabulous, historic Tudor properties. Find out more in my blog here.
Historic Properties Nearby
- Bury St Edmonds
- Framlingham – both church and castle (immortalised now as Ed Sheeran’s ‘Castle on the Hill’!) Howard tombs
- Long Melford Hall and Church
- Kentwell
- Westhorpe Hall
Visitor Information
For more accommodation details, check out West Stow Hall’s website.
Address: West Stow Hall, Icklingham Road, West Stow, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EY.
Owner’s Contact Details: Mrs Eileen Gilbert – Phone: 01284 728127.
