Halsall House

Halsall House is a house, likely built as a rectory and now a private dwelling, dating to approximately 1847-50. It was designed by Sydney Smirke for the Blundell family. Constructed of coursed squared sandstone in large blocks, it has a slate roof. The building follows an irregular rectangular double-depth plan under a two-span roof, oriented on a north-east/south-west axis, and includes a south-east turret. It is designed in a Jacobean style.

The house is two storeys high with cellars and attics, featuring a three-window front with short gabled wings at each end, linked by a five-bay loggia. The loggia is characterized by buttressed piers, chamfered Perpendicular arches, a drip-band, and an embattled parapet. Ground floor elements within the loggia include a Perpendicular arched doorway flanked by small one-light windows and a six-light mullion-and-transom window in the first bay. Above, the first floor has a cross-window flanked by six-light windows, the drip-band (interrupted by four rainwater heads) carried around, and a matching parapet. The gables of the flanking wings each have extruded chimney stacks, each with a linenfold-patterned plaque at first-floor level, along with three clustered octagonal chimneys.

The south return wall consists of two gabled bays, the first projected, with similar mullion-and-transom windows. French windows, in the form of tall coupled cross-windows, are present in the projection, and attic windows of one and two lights are set into the gables. A three-stage turret, square at ground floor and octagonal above, is located at the corner; it features lancet windows, a moulded cornice, a lead-clad ogival cap, and a weathervane. The rear elevation includes a canted bay window, a transomed shallow rectangular bay window with arched upper lights, and altered service extensions and a 20th-century conservatory attached to these.

The interior includes an entrance hall with a mosaic floor (now concealed), leading to a large staircase hall. The hall features an open-well staircase in Jacobean style, and three doorways with wide pilastered architraves into the principal rooms; those leading to the library and dining room are coupled, with semi-circular arches over the cornice. The library retains original built-in mahogany bookcases. The drawing room has wall panels and moulded plasterwork; acanthus leaf and egg-and-dart cornices are found in the drawing room and library. A complete suite of cellars is also present.

The house was built to replace a former rectory approximately 100 metres southwest, which incorporated parts dating back to the 14th century; ruins of this former rectory were still visible in 1955. The building forms a group with the associated ha-ha.