Boynton Hall

Boynton Hall is a country house of late 16th-century origin, extensively remodelled in the early 18th century and again in 1767. The house was transformed by Lord Burlington around 1700 and 1730, and further modified by John Carr in 1767.

The building is constructed of red brick with burnt brick diaper work and stone dressings in ashlar, with slate roofs throughout. The original structure was H-shaped in plan with extruded corners, which were later infilled to form the main front.

The main front elevation presents a symmetrical composition of three storeys with seven bays. It features a chamfered stone plinth and stone quoins. A slightly projecting five-window infill section rises prominently, dominated by a three-window polygonal bay that extends through the full height of the house. At ground level is a 20th-century central door with a rectangular fanlight above, set within an eared architrave. All windows within the polygonal bay are sashes with glazing bars in eared architraves with stone sills. The polygonal bay is flanked by round-headed windows with glazing bars and radial glazing to the heads, set in plain stone surrounds with stone sills. The flanking cells contain sash windows with glazing bars in eared stone surrounds with stone sills. Moulded string courses run to the first and second floors, with a moulded eaves cornice throughout. Axial chimney stacks rise through the hipped roofs.

The garden elevation is symmetrical, comprising three storeys and five bays arranged in a receding front in the pattern A-B-C-B-A. A 19th-century double door to the central bay has glazing bars in a tripartite arrangement, with side windows also glazed with bars, all enclosed by Tuscan pilasters and entablature. Above this is a Venetian window with glazing bars and Doric pilasters and entablature. A Diocletian window lights the second floor. A pediment with moulded cornice crowns this elevation. Ground and first floor windows are sashes with glazing bars in eared architraves with stone sills; second floor windows are sashes with glazing bars in eared and shouldered architraves.

The right return front is symmetrical, of three storeys and three bays. The central feature comprises a double door under a fanlight with glazing bars, set within a rusticated surround with massive imposts and a projecting key-block. A Tuscan porch with columns in antis supports an entablature and a balustrade above with turned balusters and a moulded handrail. The first floor contains a central Venetian window with Ionic pilasters and entablature and a projecting key-block. The second floor has a central oculus window with radial glazing in a moulded surround. Ground and first floor windows are sashes with glazing bars in eared architraves with stone sills; second floor windows are sashes with glazing bars in eared and shouldered architraves.

The interior preserves many features of exceptional richness. A closed string staircase dating from around 1700 features twisted balusters and a ramped and moulded handrail within a stair-hall. The stair-hall is lined with contemporary bolection-moulded panelling and has a rich plaster ceiling. Two fireplaces designed by William Kent survive: one features opposed consoles and a frieze decorated with swags, whilst the other incorporates details from Inigo Jones's design for the screen in the chapel at Somerset House. A bolection-moulded marble fireplace and overmantel of around 1700 are located in the Queen's Bedroom. A further room at the south end of the west wing retains bolection-moulded panelling.