Dinnington Hall

DINNINGTON ST. JOHN'S FALCON WAY SK58NW (west side) 2/2 Dinnington Hall I 29.7.66

GV II*

Large house now hotel. Early-mid C18 with alterations of 1752 for Henry Athorpe attributed to James Paine (Colvin, p610); later additions and interiors by John Carr. Ashlar sandstone, C20 cement tile and Westmorland slate roofs. Two storeys with attics, 5-bay symmetrical front. Plinth. Central porch with C20 part-glazed door, flanking pilasters, triple keystone and entablature which breaks forward. 2-pane sash over has architrave with keystone surmounted by carved bird. Flanking 2-storey canted-bay windows with 2-pane sashes separated by pilasters; moulded sills and, between storeys, string courses and 1st-floor band. Rain water heads bear date 1752. Cornice beneath parapet with ball finials over bays. Bays 1 and 5, treated as end-pavilions, each have rusticated ground floor with round-headed sash with glazing bars flanked by square-headed niches. 1st-floor band beneath sill band linking 2-pane sash in corniced architrave and-flanking semi-domed niches all set within a round-arched recess beneath an open pediment. Pavilions have hipped roofs that abut taller roof of central range having 2 wooden dormers, ashlar gable copings and corniced end stacks. Rear: 3 very large 2-pane sashes beneath flat arches, 6-pane sashes beneath eaves cornice, 3 round-headed dormers. Left return: large, plain, 2-storey canted-bay projection flanked by lower wings. Bay has round-headed windows with impost band, square-headed 1st-floor windows with sill band, cornice, hipped roof. Side wings: rusticated ground floor; Venetian window on right has blocked side lights. Right return: matching Venetian window beneath sash with glazing bars in corniced architrave flanked by semi-domed niches.

Interior: excellent decoration in Dining Room by John Carr: enriched 6-panel mahogany doors in corniced architraves with anthemion friezes; round-headed wall panels enclosing doors, 2 semi-domed niches, fireplace and window openings; anthemion dado and impost band; fireplace has iron basket in marble surround with architraved panel over; plaster vases in flat archivolts with armament panels between; plain ceiling. Stair hall with Doric-columned front screen, wooden-balustraded staircase, glazed oval lantern; C20 trompe-d'oeil decorative scheme. Drawing room: fine decoration in style of Dining Room: marble fireplace, oval ceiling panel with vases, ribbons and garlands. Former home of the Athorpe family.

H. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840, 1978.

Listing NGR: SK5248885686