Read Hall

Read Hall is a large house built between 1818 and 1825 by George Webster of Kendal, located on the site of an earlier mansion. The building is constructed of sandstone ashlar and features hipped slate roofs. It has two storeys with an attic. The symmetrical south front consists of nine bays, adorned with a cornice and blocking course, and clasping pilasters with sinkings. The three central bays project as a bow and are topped with a dome, while a Tuscan colonnade in front of the ground floor supports a balcony with iron railings. The current windows are mid-20th century steel casements with glazing bars, and it is noted that the window sills may have been lowered.

The west front has three bays, with the central bay projecting slightly and featuring a tetrastyle Ionic portico. On the east side, the main block also has three bays, with a rear wing set back to the right that may contain remnants of an 18th-century house. Inside, the principal ground-floor rooms showcase plasterwork with Grecian detailing in strong relief. The long entrance hall is divided by four Ionic columns arranged in a square. The domed stair hall features a geometric staircase with iron balusters, which rises in one flight and returns in two curved flights.