Clegg Hall

Clegg Hall is a house dating back to approximately 1610, originally built for Theophilus Ashton. It is constructed of dressed stone, with hammer-dressed stone detailing and a graduated stone slate roof. The building comprises five bays by three, with two storeys plus an attic level, all raised above a full basement. The near-symmetrical façade incorporates a prominent central two-storey porch, approached by a flight of steps. The porch’s segmental-headed door opening features a moulded surround and capitals, flanked by paired columns with cushion capitals. The upper floor of the porch rises above an entablature, with a five-light mullion and transom window flanked by single columns on pedestals, incorporating enriched capitals and a frieze with fanciful, debased classical details. Basement windows are predominantly two and three-light mullioned, while the upper floors feature four-light mullion and transom windows, except for the principal room, which has five lights, and one to the right, which is partially blocked. All windows are double-chamfered and have hoodmoulds; the first-floor hoodmould is continuous. The building has three coped gables, each with two or three-light windows, finials, and rainwater spouts; similar gables are also present on the sides and rear. Windows generally feature three, four, or five lights, mullion and transom designs, or one, two, or three-light mullioned windows, depending on their location (basement or attic). At the rear, a central door has a four-centred arch lintel, and a gabled porch features spiral carving to the kneelers. The left side of the rear elevation appears to have been altered, with a door inserted to the right, likely in the 19th century. Groups of diagonally set chimney stacks rise from an axial spine wall with stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops.

The interior is arranged with rooms two deep, with the porch leading directly into the principal room, which features a fireplace with a large chamfered segmental arch. The room’s beams are heavily moulded. The central rear staircase is timber-framed, winding around an octagonal newel post. Doors generally have four-centred arch lintels. Remaining roof structure elements include tie-beam trusses and wind bracing. Clegg Hall is a substantial building that has largely retained its original form, apart from some decay.