Hidden Moorish designs revealed by 1941 bomb damage

When a bomb hit Blakesley Hall in November 1941, it caused extensive damage but also loosened a significant amount of plaster. This damage partially revealed that the walls and timbers of the bedchamber were decorated in a Moorish design. A mock-up of how this painted chamber would have looked can be seen in the back bedroom today.

Richard Smalbroke, a man of local importance, built this timber-framed house in 1590 when Yardley was in Worcestershire. The hall is a typical example of Tudor architecture, featuring darkened timber, wattle-and-daub infill, and an external white-painted lime render. The extensive use of close studding and herringbone patterns on all sides of the house was designed to show the wealth and status of the owner.

The hall survived centuries as a farm before becoming a museum in 1935. After the war, it was restored to an authentic period appearance using furnishings drawn from a 1684 inventory. Today, visitors can see original features like the herringbone floor, along with artefacts such as pewter goblets and paintings from 1590 that were hidden for centuries.

As a community museum run by Birmingham Museums Trust, the hall also features an adjacent Grade II listed barn used for exhibitions and social functions. In the grounds of the museum is the Gilbertstone, a rock moved in local folklore by a giant named Gilbert, which gave its name to the nearby area.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons