Description of the attraction
Speck Hall is a country estate of the Tudor era, an excellent example of half-timbered technology. Construction of the existing house began in 1530, earlier constructions were incorporated into the structure of the building. In 1531, the Large or Oak Living Room was built. In the period 1540-1570. the southern wing of the building was rebuilt, and the western wing was added in 1546-47. The last major changes were made in 1598, when the northern part of the building was rebuilt. Since then, the building has remained practically unchanged, and this is one of the oldest surviving buildings of this kind. The oak beams and pillars, characteristic of this style of architecture, rest on a red sandstone foundation.
Many English castles and country estates have secret passages or shelters where you can instantly hide or through which you can hide if necessary. Such secret shelters were especially widespread during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, when the Catholic faith was outlawed, and Catholic priests were persecuted as state criminals and traitors. In the Speck Hall, visitors can see such secret hideouts, where the priest could hide in the event of a raid. Special holes allowed the servants to eavesdrop on what the people on the porch were talking about, waiting to be admitted into the house, and observation holes were installed in the chimney, allowing them to notice from a distance that intruders were approaching the house.
The garden near the house was laid out in 1850. There are two yew trees that are called Adam and Eve. The age of these yew trees is determined from 500 to 1000 years.
