The house started life as a medieval
hall house and was rebuilt around 1500 by
Sir Amias Paulet. Alterations were made for successive
Lords Poulett by
Matthew Brettingham,
John Soane,
James Wyatt, and
Jeffry Wyattville. The Tower House was added around 1814. The design of the south front is based on
Inigo Jones's
Banqueting House in
Whitehall. The former stable block which was built in the late 18th century, designed by John Soane, is also a Grade II
listed building. Immediately south of the main house is a sunken garden, surrounded by low open balustrading. During the
Second World War, the house was used by the St Felix School for Girls, evacuated from
Felixstowe. The estate was broken up in August 1968, when it was sold by the childless 8th and last Earl Poulett. The house itself was divided into several flats. ==References==