The Gatehouse website record for Gainsborough Old Hall

In the civil parish of Gainsborough. In the historic county of Lincolnshire (Modern Authority of Lincolnshire, 1974 county of Lincolnshire).

The Old Hall is principally brick with later additions. A complicated building consisting of the great hall and two wings and a fourth side which was demolished in the English Civil War. Superb timber-framing and brickwork. The sequence of building history has been gradually elucidated, especially by excavations in the west wing. Structural remains, including indications of curtain wall and brick foundations of other walls, were recorded during the construction of new paths around the south side of the building in 1993. The Old Hall was descheduled in May 1997. The First Floor East Wing Corridor has in situ domestic glazing dating to circa 1450-84 AD and to the 16th century. Stained glass in the Great Hall north wall dates to the mid- to late 15th century, and includes the Royal Arms of England, dating to circa 1450-84 AD. (Lincolnshire HER)
The late C15 tower is a brick built crenellated structure with clear similarities to other brick towers of the period in Lincolnshire (cf. Tattershall castle; the towers at Rochford and Hussey), despite this this tower is never described as fortified. The tower was built by Thomas Burgh, in the 1470's. He was an important courtier, became a garter knight and was ennobled in 1487. Similar buildings for similar status individuals at the time were giving licences to crenellate but none is recorded for Gainsborough.
There may have been possible lost fortifications either for this C15 house or it's C13 predecessor. The site is now with a tight network of streets and closely surrounded by buildings. One nearby street is called Caskgate street, but may be a reference to a river wharf, otherwise no street names relating to possible defensive structures. No mention of possible fortifications in PastScape. The lost fourth side may well have had a gatehouse although how 'fortified' the building was is subjective.
The interior of the Hall, the kitchen and some chambers have been carefully furnished to give an impression of a late medieval high status home.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SK81329000

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 325075
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 54153 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.