Bolton Hall

Bolton Hall is a small country house, now divided into two dwellings. The north-east range dates to the late 17th century, with re-fenestration and a stair wing added in the mid-18th century. A new south block (replacing an earlier structure) and the north-west range were built in the early 19th century, likely by John Dobson. The older parts are constructed of squared stone with cut dressings, the south block of squared tooled stone, and the north-west range of squared stone with tooled-and-margined quoins and dressings. The roofs are slate, with blue Scottish slates on the north-east range.

The south front has two storeys and five symmetrical bays. It features a plinth, sill and first-floor bands, and a moulded eaves cornice. A central, old half-glazed door is flanked by panelled pilasters carrying an open-pedimented hood, with four-pane sash windows completing the facade. The roof is hipped.

The east elevation is divided into two sections. The left bay has similar detailing to the south front. The older right part is irregular, comprising five bays, with rusticated quoins at the right end. A 20th-century glazed double door is set within an open-pedimented classical doorcase, originally from the centre bay. A half-glazed door with a radial overlight is at the right end. Four-pane sash windows are set within inserted architraves. The right gable is coped and has moulded kneelers. Four tall stepped-and-corniced stacks are positioned along the ridge and right end of the roof.

The west elevation includes a three-storey, two-bay central stair wing with a round-arched stair window and trompe l'oeil windows beneath the eaves. An early 19th-century lower part to the left has a boarded door and a ten-pane overlight within a re-set moulded surround inscribed with "W M (William & Mary Brown) 1689". Twelve and sixteen-pane sash windows are also present.

The interior of the south block features a sitting room with an 18th-century moulded stone fireplace and an enriched modillion cornice. Two high rooms in the south block also have moulded cornices. A dogleg stair has stick balusters, a ramped handrail, and carved tread ends; the stair window has a panelled surround and pilasters. A Greek key frieze is located at first-floor level, alongside a dentil cornice. The upper part of the stair has been re-set as a straight stair to the first floor of the south block. A stairhead screen is formed by half columns.

In the north part, the dining room has a chamfered segmental-arched fireplace and a panelled dado. Other features include fielded-panel doors, shutters, some panelling, and old grates. Segmental vaulted cellars contain arched brick wine bins.

Reference to Dobson’s involvement is found in the Newcastle Journal of 16 January 1865.