The Great Hall
The Heart of the Elizabethan House
The Great Hall was the central space of the Elizabethan house and remains so today, as the first room visitors enter directly through the front door. Originally rising the full height of the building and lit from above, it was altered by the late 16th century with a lowered ceiling and attic rooms, reflecting changing uses within the household.
In the 18th century, the Hall was remodelled under William Constable, who commissioned Timothy Lightoler to redesign the interior. Decorative plasterwork, heraldic details and classical ornament were introduced, shaping a space that reflected William’s interest in ancestry and Enlightenment ideals. Portraits of the Constable family are displayed here, forming a visual record of the family line.