The Hall

The Hall is a country house built between 1718 and 1729 by Sir John Vanbrugh for Admiral George Delaval. It is a building of group value, recognised for its significant contribution to the historic landscape. The house is constructed of ashlar with varying rustication, and has Lakeland slate roofs. The design is based on a Palladian plan, executed in an individual Baroque style.

The property comprises a central square main block with polygonal angle turrets and flanking square stair towers on its south side, all set around a grand court. Symmetrical stable and kitchen blocks flank the main block, linked to it by an arcaded gallery that continues north to terminate in square pavilions.

The main entrance front features a broad centrepiece of three storeys on a basement, with an open staircase leading to an arched doorway between 18-pane sash windows, surmounted by a broad lunette. This is flanked by projecting groups of three giant columns supporting a metope frieze, which steps back across the centre. The second floor has three windows, the central one arched, and a richly-carved pediment. On either side, two-storey sections of two narrow bays connect to the angle turrets, all under balustraded parapets. The south front has a similar composition, but with a prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico. Set back on each side are three-story stair towers with Venetian windows in the top stage and balustraded parapets. The three-story central section is flanked by massive stacks pierced with round arches.

Arcaded galleries link the main block to the wings; the wing to the west has a parallel enclosed corridor behind, featuring keyed oculi. Each wing has a two-story, 15-bay facade to the court, with a pedimented three-bay centre set slightly forward. To the rear of each wing is a central apsidal projection with a Venetian window.

Internally, the Great Hall features stone facing with blank arcading and arched niches above, flanked by fireplaces with terms, and a gallery on enriched cantilevered supports. Vaulted corridors lead to an oval, open-well staircase with wrought-iron balustrades, partly restored. There is also a large saloon extending the full width of the south front, a mahogany parlour with a moulded cornice and some original panelling, and extensive vaulted cellarage. In the west wing, the former kitchen is groin-vaulted with a segmental arch to the bow. The first-floor corridor is divided into three compartments by moulded arches, and oversized door surrounds feature keystones and imposts. The stables are spanned by transverse elliptical arches, with ashlar stall divisions and mangers, and arched niches holding hay racks.

The house was unfinished at the time of the deaths of both Vanbrugh and Admiral Delaval. The west wing was damaged by fire in 1752 and restored in 1814-15 by John Dobson. The main block was gutted by fire in 1822, and although it has been reroofed, it largely remains an empty shell.