Old Hall

Old Hall

A house of probably late 17th-century date, with an earlier range to the left of reputed 16th-century origins, and later additions and alterations including a 19th-century range to the rear. It is built in pinkish-red brick in Flemish bond with alternate rows of stretcher bond, with a range to the left in English garden wall bond with cobbles to side and rear. The building is finished with ashlar dressings and a pantile roof.

The main range rises to 2 storeys with a basement and attics to the gable, with a 2-lower-storey range to the left which has one window opening. The main range sits on a chamfered ashlar plinth with ashlar quoins to the right.

The front elevation displays two inserted late 19th-century off-centre entrances with ornamentally-panelled doors, divided overlights in panelled recesses, and 20th-century surrounds. These interrupt three 17th-century blocked window openings with ashlar surrounds. A fourth original window to the right is a 3-light mullion-and-transom window with cavetto-moulded mullions in a double-chamfered surround, now partly recut. A further inserted window between the doors is an early 20th-century casement which interrupts the plinth.

The first floor on the front contains a 2-light blocked cavetto-moulded mullion-and-transom window in a double-chamfered surround to the left. Adjacent is a 3-light mullion-and-transom window with cavetto mouldings and a rolled head in a double-chamfered cavetto-and-roll moulded surround. A blocked 3-light cavetto-moulded mullion-and-transom window in a double-chamfered surround is followed by a similar glazed window. All are partly recut. The eaves are marked by a shaped ashlar modillion band and swept roof. Remains of an ashlar kneeler survive at the right end, along with ashlar copings and a ball finial, while the left end has brick copings. An end stack and rear external stacks with diamond chimneys are visible. Tumbled-in brickwork appears at the left gable end.

The right gable end displays 2 casement windows in chamfered surrounds set into the plinth, with the right-hand example showing remains of a central mullion. The ground floor has two 2-light mullion-and-transom windows, the left-hand example retaining partly-recut cavetto-moulded mullion in a double-chamfered surround. The first floor has two 2-light cavetto-moulded mullion-and-transom windows. A casement window in the remains of an ashlar surround, showing evidence of a central mullion, sits under a triangular pediment of rubbed brick.

The rear of the main range contains a ground floor blocked 2-light mullion-and-transom window with remains of cavetto-and-roll-moulded mullions. Further remains of a blocked opening with ashlar surround are interrupted by an early 20th-century casement. A mezzanine has a 2-light cavetto-and-roll-moulded mullion window in a cavetto-chamfered surround. The first floor has a 3-light mullion-and-transom window with similar moulding. Cogged eaves band the rear elevation.

The range to the left has ashlar quoins and a brick plinth with chamfered ashlar copings interrupted by an inserted early 20th-century casement window. Shaped ashlar modillions and brick copings with an end stack distinguish this part. The gable end shows remains of a blocked window with ashlar quoined jambs under a cavetto-moulded hood with label stops and brick relieving arch. Above this sits a 3-light cavetto-moulded window in a double-chamfered surround with quoined jambs. Tumbled-in brickwork appears to the gable end. The rear displays a 20th-century glazed entrance and casement window alongside a 3-light cavetto-moulded mullion-and-transom window in a double-chamfered surround under a cavetto-moulded hood with label stops and relieving arch. The first floor contains a 12-pane, 2-light Yorkshire sash. A cogged eaves band marks the junction with the roof.

The interior of both ranges has been much altered during the 19th century. The building is reputedly the remaining part of the 16th-century manor house of the Boyntons, who acquired Burton Agnes Hall through marriage in the 17th century.