Belsay Hall

BELSAY BELSAY NZ 0878

26/18 Belsay Hall

27.8.52 (formerly listed as Belsay New Castle)

GV I

Country house. 1810-17. By and for Sir Charles Monck with some assistance from John Dobson. Ashlar with Lakeland slate roof. Greek Doric style. 100 ft. square with lower kitchen wing attached to north side. 2 storeys, 7 x 6 bays. Set on a stylobate of 2 steps.

Entrance side, 7 bays with angle pilasters, recessed 3-bay centre with giant columns in antis. Completely plain openings with tall 12-pane sashes on ground floor, and 6-pane above. Giant entablature with boldly-projecting cornice. Shallow-pitched hipped roof with corniced ridge stacks.

Garden front 6 bays with angle pilasters and pilasters framing middle 4 bays. Similar windows and entablature.

Interior. Central hall, based on the atrium of a Greco-Roman house, is surrounded by fluted Ionic columns on ground floor and Greek Doric columns above with palmette necking. Staircase up right side has elaborate brass balusters and between 1st floor columns brass railing with acanthus scrolls and ornate brass lampholders. Top lit by glazed coffered ceiling.

The library also has a coffered ceiling and a deep plaster frieze with 2 bands of Greek Key and a band of palmettes. Fireplace, of yellow scagliola with white marble capitals, has Doric columns in antis.

Dining room has marble fireplace with Doric columns. Similar frieze and coffered ceiling.

Many other rooms have fireplaces and friezes with Greek detail.

Large tunnel-vaulted cellars.

Belsay: English Heritage: HBMC: 1984.

Listing NGR: NZ0883578363