Stubbylee Hall

This is a large house, originally built in 1809 (as indicated by a datestone over the rear stairwell), and significantly rebuilt and enlarged in 1872 (dated on the left return wall). It now serves as Council Offices. The house is constructed of sandstone ashlar with a hipped slate roof and ridge chimneys.

The building has a roughly L-shaped plan, comprising five bays by three bays, with a rear wing to the left. The two-storey facade is symmetrical, with a central three-bay section flanked by slightly projecting, segmentally curved wings. All these sections feature panelled pilasters at the corners, a plain frieze, and a moulded cornice with a low parapet, which continues around the sides without a parapet itself. The central bay projects slightly and is pedimented, containing a porch with coupled pilasters, engaged Ionic columns in antis, a prominent cornice, and a balustraded parapet. Above this, at the first floor, a tall window is set within a cornice on consoles. The facade has two sash windows with glazing bars on each floor of the curved wing bays and one window on each floor of the inner bays. Narrow horizontal panels are positioned above the first-floor windows.

The return walls have three similar windows on each floor, although the first-floor windows fronting the bays are blind. The left return wall connects to the rear wing via a short recessed bay, featuring a round-headed doorway, a pierced pseudo-parapet, a first-floor window with an architrave, and a parapet inscribed “AD 1872”.

The rear elevation includes a tripartite stairwell window with round-headed lights. A datestone in the centre of the stairwell window features scallop decoration and the inscription “H (James Holt?) I & A 1809”.

The interior’s large stairwell contains a stone imperial staircase (one flight followed by two), protected by a heavy classical wooden balustrade. The ceiling is panelled with moulded plaster decoration to the beams, and a spherical domed skylight with stained glass margins is present. Original features, such as built-in cupboards and bookcases, remain, although some have been relocated.

The property, known as "Stubby Lee", was occupied in 1825 by James Holt, a baize manufacturer, and later in the 19th century by James Maden Holt MP.