Adlington Hall

Adlington Hall is a large manor house of major architectural importance, developed over more than two and a half centuries into a courtyard-plan composition of exceptional interest.

The great hall was finished in 1505 for Thomas Legh I. An east range and porch were added in 1581 for Thomas Legh III. Major renovations of the north range were undertaken between 1665 and 1670 for Thomas Legh IV. The south range dates from 1757 and the west range from 1740 and 1761, both commissioned by Charles Legh. Parts of the south and west ranges were demolished and altered in 1928. The building evolved from a moated manor house through an L-shaped plan to its final courtyard layout.

The construction is partly timber framed and partly brick of two periods throughout, with a Kerridge stone-slate roof. The north front displays irregular bond brickwork with stone quoins encasing the early manor house, presenting an irregular elevation of 2 and 3 storeys with 6 gables. Windows include a mixture of 12 and 16-pane sashes under flat, wedged brick heads and two venetian windows of the mid-18th century. The front door is a fine 6-board oak, studded example with scrolled iron hinges leading to the screens passage. Decorated lead guttering and a good rainhead complete the detailing.

The east front features timber framing on a rubble stone plinth with close studding, a middle rail and herring-bone pattern infill. Windows comprise ovolo-moulded mullioned and mullioned and transomed lights, a small oriel, and inserted 12 and 16-pane sashes. A coving and moulded band appear at first floor level and under the gable of a 2-storey staircase turret.

The south front is constructed in Flemish bond red brick with sandstone dressings, presenting a symmetrical 13-bay elevation of 2 and 3 storeys. A low stone plinth, rusticated quoins and modillion cornice frame the composition. The centrepiece is a giant unfluted Ionic tetrastyle portico with plain pillars on octagonal pedestals. The frieze carries the inscription "CHARLES & HESTER LEGH 1757" and the Legh arms appear in the pediment. The ground storey has semi-circular headed openings with eared architraves above, the central window finished with a segmental pediment. Either side of the portico are 12-pane sashes under flat rusticated heads.

The west front has been largely demolished, though the left and right ends survive. A screen wall was rebuilt incorporating elements seen on the south front. A venetian window features a dated keystone of 1761.

The courtyard's north side contains very large rebated chamfered stone mullioned and transomed windows of the late 17th century serving the hall and former solar. A projecting 2-storey timber framed porch to the screens passage bears a long inscription dated 1581.

Interior arrangements are of considerable richness. The screens passage shows massive panelled octagonal posts of the original spere truss and some ogee-headed panelling. The hall within the spere truss houses a very fine organ by Bernard Smith with an accompanying organ gallery of circa 1670. The great hall is roofed with a hammer-beam structure and features excellent coving over the dais end, clumsy wall paintings depicting the history of Troy, and a mid-18th-century white marble fireplace with attributes of Apollo. The north range contains a good staircase of circa 1670 with twisted balusters and carved fir cones on the newels, and an oak staircase of 1740. Much good domestic Carolean work survives on the upper floors.

The east range comprises service rooms of little note. The south range contains no major rooms but possesses pretty stucco ceilings on the upper floor, one decorated with Gothick motifs.

The west range includes, at its northern end from 1740, a relatively simple dining room below and a more ornate drawing room above. The drawing room is oak panelled by Henry Sephton with Corinthian pilasters and egg and dart moulded panels, the mouldings continued in the ceiling. Resited pearwood carving in the manner of Gibbons and a good white marble fireplace complete the scheme.