Skelbrooke Hall

SE51SW HAMPOLE BANNISTER LANE (east side, off), Skelbrooke

2/49 Skelbrooke Hall

5.6.68

GV II

Country house. Early C18. Rubble limestone, C20 tile roof. 3 storeys, 5 bays with single-bay projection set back on left the angle infilled by a single-storey block. Large quoins, chamfered plinth. Enclosed, early C19, sandstone ashlar porch has double doors and fanlight with glazing bars flanked by Doric columns, pediment. Sashes with glazing bars with soffit-moulded sills and projecting square-faced surrounds. C19 modillioned eaves cornice. Hipped roof with transverse, multiple-flue ridge stacks; small end stack on right, front-wall stack to bay set back on left. Rear: later external steps. One window retains hoodmould. Enlarged double-chamfered surrounds above dripmould. Right return: extensive remains of double-chamfered window surrounds. 2 round-headed stair windows with glazing bars.

Interior: ground-floor room to left has keyed arch to Ionic fireplace; achievement of arms over with eagle. Ionic pilasters to other walls, plaster festoons and floral drops, plaster mirror surround crowned by swan. C18 staircase has turned balusters, handrail surmounted by later, cross-braced, openwork panels. lst-floor room to front right has early C18, raised, fielded panelling. Room to front left with excellent plaster ceiling with circular panel in Adam style.

Former house of the Neville family. Plaster panels in ground-floor room taken from same moulds as Blenheim Palace. Captain John Brown, adjutant to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlbrough, at the Battle of Blenheim said to be associated with the house.

Listing NGR: SE5113112278