Harnham Hall

BELSAY HARNHAM NZ 08 SE

4/61 Harnham Hall 27.8.52

GV II*

House. Probably C16 or early C17, altered late C17 and refenestrated C18. Random rubble, pebbledashed on front; stone slate roof.

Probably originally a hearth-passage plan, altered in later C17 to central staircase plan with downhouse. Tower attached to rear.

2 storeys, 4 windows. To left a late C16 or early C17 doorway with Tudor-arched surround and multi-moulded floating cornice. Later C17 central doorway has Tudor-arched lintel, broad chamfered surround and hoodmould with small nailhead decoration. 12-pane sash windows in raised surrounds. (Vestiges of mullioned windows in quite different positions said to be visible beneath pebbledash). Steeply-pitched gabled roof with flat coping and kneelers; corniced ridge stack to right of earlier doorway. Similar external end stacks.

The tower to rear is built daringly, directly over edge of cliff. It is said to be medieval but the walls are only c. 2 ft. thick and it appears to have no features earlier than C17. Vaulted basement with 2 storeys over. On the ground floor a 3-light mullioned window with multi-moulded cornice. On 1st floor a blocked mullioned-and-transomed cross window with similar cornice and a 12-pane sash in similar surround. Plain parapet with higher turret in north-east corner.

Interior: Open-well early C18 staircase has turned balusters with square knops and clustered shafts at the newels. In the drawing room a large high-relief plaster roundel with a dragon in a circle of oak leaves; this is the crest of the Babingtons who owned the house from c.1660-1677; also large C17 fireplace with segmental lintel, into which an early C18 stone fireplace with pulvinated frieze has been set; flanking early C18 cupboards. 1st floor room in tower has a fine early C18 corner cupboard with arched panels, scrolled pedimented top and shaped shelves. Many 2-panel doors.

Hodgson. History of Northumberland Vol. 1 part 2.

Listing NGR: NZ0737880474