Moat House Meriden

Moat House, east of the church, in Meriden, is a farm-house of half-H plan, facing west. The west end of the south wing, of old framing covered with rough-cast cement, is dated 1609 in the gable-head, but the house is probably of 16th-century or earlier origin. The whole west and north sides were rough-casted, but it is now partly stripped in the main block and inner faces of the wings, revealing ancient close-set studding to both stories, on stone foundations. The middle entrance has an ancient door hung with ornamental strap-hinges. The north side and the upper story of the east front are of similar framing: the lower story of the last is partly of red sandstone and partly brick, the south side all of brick. The lower rooms have chamfered beams. Story-posts show in the walls inside, but there is no visible evidence to date the roof trusses. A central chimney-stack has wide fire-places back to back; the shaft above is square with a square pilaster on each face. Another stack in the south wing has three diagonal shafts. Around the house and farm-buildings is a moat, mostly dry

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