Corley Hall, about ½ mile north-east of [Corley] church, dates probably from the first half of the 16th century but it has been very much transformed by later alterations. The plan is H-shaped facing south-east, with a 17th-century back extension to the north-east wing and other modern enlargements. The front is roughcasted and betrays little sign of age, but in the northeast side is an early-16th-century four-centred and square oak door-head, and in the internal wall of the same wing is another ancient door-frame and a door hung with strap-hinges having fleur-de-lis ends. The middle block and south-west wing have Elizabethan moulded ceiling beams to the lower story and the latter has a late-16th-century overmantel. This is of three round-headed bays inclosing grotesque heads and divided by foliage-carved pilasters. Over them is a carved frieze of serpentine monsters. The fire-place has foliage-carved side pilasters. In the upper room of this wing is reset a remarkable series of early-16th-century carved panels, said to be indigenous. There are 8 moulded panels containing carved heads, almost portraits, one very like Francis I and another a lady in a flat head-dress. Six others have smaller heads in medallions and three others conventional heads and scrolls and a cherub holding a shield; seventeen in all. There is other panelling of c. 1630 and an overmantel of c. 1680 with a bolection-moulded panel. The upper ceiling beams are chamfered. The front courtyard to the house has a pair of gate-posts with moulded stone heads on which are pedestals with griffons' or wolves' heads.

There is little else of age in the parish. Two thatched cottages opposite the church show some 17th-century timber-framing, and timber-framed outbuildings and a barn ¾ mile north-west of the church indicate ancient sites.

From: 'Parishes: Corley', A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 4: Hemlingford Hundred (1947), pp. 57-60. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42655 Date accessed: 07 September 2011.

20/5 Corley Hall and attached wall 11/11/52 and gatepiers

Grade II* Listed House. Early Clb with C17 and later additions and alterations. Timber-frame
covered with roughcast render. Plain-tile roof and brick stacks. H-plan with gabled cross-wing: C17 extension at rear of NE cross-wing. 2 storeys and attic. Entrance doorway to cross-passage under a plain rendered porch set in the angle of the main range with the NE cross-wing: C20 door. Late C19 3-light casement windows to both floors of main range on left of porch and one similar to each
floor of gable wall of NE cross-wing. Late C19 canted bay window to gable wall of SW cross-wing. On NE side of NE cross-wing an early C16 oak 4-centred arched doorhead. Interior: moulded bridging beams, some on carved brackets, over ground floor; chamfered bridging beams on first floor. Room on ground floor in SW cross-wing has a mid to late C16 fireplace wood surround with carved side
pilasters and arches carved with foliage. Above a bracketed cornice 3 panels carved with serpentine monsters. Window casement in the same room contains stained glass panel with royal arms: late C17 or early C18. Late C17 staircase: square newel posts with turned knobs, turned balusters. In a first floor room some late C16 or early C17 panelling: Square fielded panels except for frieze of top panels which contain a set of early C16 carvings, possibly brought in; 8 are carved with heads which may be portraits, 6 are smaller heads in medallions and 3 are conventional heads and a cherub with a scroll. Other rooms have C18 panelling, doors, and a C16 door with original strap hinges. Several bays of roof have cambered collar ties and windbraced purlins. Adjoining front courtyard with C18 red brick gatepiers with moulded stone cornice which support stone pedestals surmounted by carved griffins or wolves heads.