Wallington Hall

WALLINGTON DEMESNE WALLINGTON HALL NZ 0284 21/220 Wallington Hall 6.5.52 GV I Country House built on site of earlier Fenwick house in 1688, for Sir William Blackett; remodelled 1735-45, probably by Daniel Garrett, for Sir William Calverley Blackett. Further alterations 1853-4 by John Dobson, on advice of Ruskin. Tooled-and-margined stone, with dressings; slate roofs. Square plan with ranges around courtyard, roofed over and converted into Central Hall in 1853 & 4;two small service wings to north. Classical style with little external enrichment.

South front 2 storeys, 3+3+3 bays, symmetrical. Rusticated end quoins, bands at lst floor and below eaves. Central slightly-projecting pedimented section has French window in eared architrave under consoles carrying broken pediment with Trevelyan arms, and flanked by 8-pane sashes; 18-pane sashes to 1st floor. Flanking sections have 18-pane dashes with 15-pane sashes above and eaves cornice. All windows in architraves set in shallow projections running the full height of the wall. Top entablature has flattened ball finials with spikes on swept bases flanking pediment and at ends of facade. Hipped roof.

East front 2+3+1+3+2 bays; plainer detail, central Tuscan porch. To far right a 1-storey service wing with firebell in wooden bellcote on ridge.

Interior; notable mid-C18 plasterwork by Pietro Francini, especially in the Saloon; also important contemporary woodwork. Simple but elegant Imperial stair. Arcaded Central Hall has Pre-Raphaelite mural paintings by William Bell Scott, and one panel by John Ruskin.

See articles by John Cornforth in Country Life MCLVII 854-8, 922-6, 986-9.

Listing NGR: NZ0288084191