Plessey Hall.

(NZ 22887905) Plessey Hall. (1)

Plessey Hall was probably built c.1680 out of the remains of a more extensive building.
Traces of a 'place of considerable importance' are to be seen behind the house in the form of earthworks, and a terrace wall running along the bank of the River Blyth and turning up Hall Dene to fortify the west as far as the southern line of earthworks in front of the house.
The family of Plessis lived for several generations in the 'capital messuage of their manor at Plessetum'. It is mentioned in 1242, and is described as being defended in 1316. In 1349 it belonged to the Widdringtons. (2)

Plessey Hall, now a farmhouse, shows little evidence of antiquity and there is no trace of any separate earlier building.
The earthworks cited as being behind the house are presumably those in a field to the north-west of the house. They are the results of surface quarrying, probably for coal.
There is no trace of the terrace wall mentioned by Hodgson, or of the southern line of earthworks. The area to the south has been subject to open-cast mining. (3)

(Subsequently published) Plessey Hall Farm incorporating remains of Plessey Hall. (4)

Conditions unchanged. (5)

Watching brief carried out by The Archaeological Practice during excavations for a septic tank and soak-away.
'The tank is situated close to the north east corner of the farm buildings beside a now demolished outbuilding. Trenches for the soak-away extend along the field, down the slope northwards. The land, at present under grass, has until recently been used for arable cultivation. The deposits excavated were consistent throughout. A mid-brown clay loam ploughsoil to a depth of 0.3m overlay weathered clay which developed at a depth of 0.45m to a stiff, yellow-brown boulder clay. I observed no archaeological features in the topsoil or in the clay subsoil'. (6)

Plessey fortified hall. Nothing remains of this old Hall. Noted by Hodgson as being behind the 17th century farm. Present hall not on the old site. (7)

Plessey Hall Farm is on the site of the ancient Manor of Plessey, and was surrounded by cottages and common fields. It was fortified by a ditch and wall, the outlines of which are visible today. It was rebuilt c.1680. (8)

Plessey Hall, grade II listed building. 17th century core, remodelled in 18th and 19th centuries. Difficult to interpret - a blocked window on the north side suggests the 17th century house was three storeys. It is possible it was used as a farmbuilding in the 18th century and returned to domestic use in the 19th. Lies on an important medieval site. (9)

Richard Plessey and his wife Margaret owned Plessey in 1346 when they had monetary difficulties. They obtained a mortgage from Roger de Widdrington, and when Richard died in 1349, Roger foreclosed the mortgage and built a small house for Margaret. This was the fortified house to which the other authorities refer, which was enlarged and fortified after her death. With a moat and wall it achieved the status of a fortified manor house, and as such it serveed the Widdringtons, and later, the Brandlings. It was demolished by Sir Richard Neville, and replaced by the present farmhouse in 1680. Distinct earthworks between the house and the river are thought to relate to the Mediaeval building. (10)