Speke Hall

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Building information
Speke Hall

Location	Liverpool
Country	England
Construction Start Date	1490
Completion Date	1598
Structural System	Timber wattle and daub
Style	Tudor

Speke Hall is a wood-framed, Tudor house in Speke, Liverpool, England. Construction of the current building began in 1490, though earlier buildings had been on the site. The house belongs to the National Trust and is open to the public. The house was owned by the Norris family for many generations.

Since the end of the 15th century the building has been gradually renovated and extended. The wood-frame style is typical of the period with the oak frame resting on a base of red sandstone. The main beams of the house are stiffened with smaller timbers and filled with wattle and daub.

The Great Hall was the first part of the house to be built between 1490–1506. The Great Parlour wing was added between 1525–1535, around this time the North Bay was also added to the house. Between 1540 and 1570 the south wing was altered and extended, the west wing was added with additional rooms. The last significant change to the building was in 1598, when the north range was added by Edward Norris. Since this time there have only been minor changes to the Hall and gardens.

In 1612 a porch was added to the Great Parlour. A laundry and dairy were founded in 1860, the laundry was altered in 1950s, was used for a time as a tea room, and is now the education room.

The Home Farm building has been renovated and now houses the shop, restaurant and reception.

[edit] Trivia

The house features a priest hole and a special observation mirror built into a wall in a bedroom to allow the occupant to see the gates to warn the priest that people were coming.