Alkrington Hall

Alkrington Hall is a house, now converted to flats, built between 1735 and 1736 by Giacomo Leoni for the Darcy Lever family. It is a building of group value. The house is constructed of brick with ashlar dressings, and has slate and tile roofs. The design follows a double-pile plan, with nine bays over three stories, and single-story three-bay wings extending to either side.

The architectural style is Classical, and the main elevation is well-composed, with the central three bays slightly projecting. The ground floor is rusticated with stone, above which are giant Ionic pilasters. The elevation is primarily brick with rusticated quoins, a first-floor band, and a coped parapet. The outer bays of the parapet are recessed, while the inner bays feature balustrades above a cornice. The central doorway is topped by an overlight and a dropped keystone displaying the date and a coat of arms, positioned below a pedimented window on the first floor. The central three bays have stone window surrounds, whereas the outer bays contain windows with flat brick arches, keystones, and stone sills. Glazing bars have been removed from most windows, except those on the top floor and some side windows. The hipped roof includes two ridge chimney stacks. The wings on either side are of a later date.

The side elevations feature semi-circular stair windows, retaining elaborate lead rainwater heads and downpipes. The rear elevation has nine windows on each floor and a central pedimented doorway with a coat of arms and pilasters.

Internally, some rooms have been divided by 20th-century partitions, but much of the original deep relief plaster ceilings, stone flooring, and timber fittings remain. One staircase has a deeply moulded rail with column-on-vase balusters, column newels, and a cut string, while the other, dating to the 19th century, has a swept rail, plain square balusters, a cut string, and a wreathed stop to the rail. The house is a significant and imposing example of Leoni’s work and is one of the few to survive in the North-West of England.