Abstract

The ‘Norman Hall’ at Horton Court in Gloucestershire is an early and unusually complete stone building, distinguished, in particular, by a pair of fine entrance doorways. It has previously been identified as a rare example of a 12th-century aisle-less domestic hall. Drawing on recent research work for the National Trust, a new study has been undertaken, examining both the building fabric and historical evidence. It is concluded that it was originally built not as a hall, but as a free-standing private chapel, to serve the adjoining prebendal manor house. The implications of this new identification are considered for the interpretation of contemporary houses and chapels.