Huncoat Hall And Attached Barn

ACCRINGTON KINGSWAY, SD 73 SE Huncoat 3/17 Huncoat Hall and attached barn 22.8.1966 (formerly listed as Huncoat Hall)

• II

Late medieval or early C16 hall house, altered in C18 and 1870-71; now house and barn. Coursed rubble with quoins, slate roof with 3 chimneys. H-plan, two storeys. South side: 2-storey central range possibly once an open hall, projecting gabled wings at each end (that on left now a barn) with a 2-storey cross-gabled bay in the left angle and a lean-to porch in the right angle; surviving features on this side include a long hoodmould at ground floor of left wing, windows of 3 and 4 round-headed lights with hollow spandrels at ground floor of bay with a blocked window above, a blocked mezzanine in the centre range, and a large Tudor-arched doorway to the porch (now part blocked and covered by outhouse). Right return wall includes 2-storey projection housing a former garderobe and part of a corbelled 1st floor chimney; rear (now front) has stair turret in angle with barn, and barn wall, rebuilt, incorporates at 1st floor a small window with 2 round-headed lights, and inscribed on sill CT 1873. Interior: (principal features only) upper end of hall-part has arched opening into ground floor of bay (oriel?), 2 pointed Tudor-arch doorways to wing (said to have been dining hall, now barn) and another to stair turret, which has part of spiral stone staircase; crosswing at lower end has 2 similar doorways (blocked); blocked mezzanine in south wall has splayed reveal and headstone for 3 rounded lights; 1st floor of bay has evidence of similar window, and is said to have been chapel (late medieval cross formerly on gable of this now loose). There are very extensive cellars of uncertain purpose under yard and field to north of house. History: home of recusant Birtwistle family from C15 to C18. (Ainsworth: Homesteads pp. 381-5; Altham and Huncoat; Whitaker: History of Whalley (1876 edn) vol.2 pp.284-5) Report for RCHM(E)

Listing NGR: SD7801830054