| De
Vere House, which has also been known
as the de Vere Hunting Lodge, Oxford House and
Oxford Cottages, was one
of three properties within the centre of Lavenham, which were owned by
the
de Vere family and attached to Lavenham Hall. The house continued
uninterrupted in de Vere ownership from the 14th to 17th centuries.
It is a grade 1 listed property because of its architectural and historical
interest.
Originally a 14th century hall house, de Vere House was extended in the
period immediately following the Battle of Bosworth (1485), and then later
partially demolished and rebuilt in 1929. Very little of the 14th century
hall remains, but the 15th century extension (in particular most of the
internal and external beams and some of the internal and external brickwork)
is pretty much as it was over 500 years ago.
The house contains a number of interesting features, including: a stone
spiral staircase based on that in Oxburgh Hall; the remains of one of
the last garde-robes to be installed in this country; a rare and original
medieval wall painting; and a magnificent front door-way, with its carved
huntsmen (dating back to the early 15th century) and the heraldic symbols
of John de Vere, the 13th earl of Oxford (boar, star, wool jack and scales).
Both the exterior and interior of the house are a splendid commemoration
to the de Vere family, who were centre-stage at most of the important
historical events of the 11th to 17th centuries.
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