Oaks Park And Adjoining Terrace Wall And Steps

Country house, now apartments, with adjoining terrace wall and steps, situated on Norton Lane in Norton, Sheffield.

The building dates from the late 17th century but was substantially remodelled in the early 18th century for Richard Bagshawe, and underwent further remodelling between 1811 and 1827 by Joseph Badger of Lancaster for Sir William and William John Bagshawe. It is constructed of coursed rubble with ashlar dressings and hipped slate roofs, topped with four coped stone ridge stacks and a similar rear wall stack which contains a bellcote.

The exterior presents a formal appearance with a plinth, string course, moulded eaves, and coped parapet. The main front elevation is three storeys tall with a nine-window range of 12-pane sashes with stone surrounds on the principal floor, the central window being distinguished by a cornice on brackets. Above this, seven 6-pane sashes with similar stone surrounds. The centrepiece is a central Doric portico with entablature and glazed double doors with overlight. Flanking the portico on either side are three 12-pane sashes with stone surrounds. The left return elevation features similar fenestration with four windows, and at the left corner stands a canted stair turret. The right return is two storeys with three 15-pane sashes on each floor. Adjacent to this is a single-storey service building with a hipped roof, a ridge stack, and a single 2-light barred mullioned window; it also has a door flanked by a 19-pane sash to the left and a smaller sash to the right. The main rear elevation displays irregular fenestration, including a large multi-pane stair window to the right.

An adjoining early 19th-century kitchen block, single storey, has a hipped slate roof and a shouldered side wall stack with three coped flues. It contains two 4-pane sashes and a single-storey projection to the right with a canted corner and 6-panel door.

The interior is of considerable architectural interest. The entrance hall contains a moulded cross beam ceiling and an elliptical arched recess housing a beaded 6-panel door, along with a marble fireplace featuring a 19th-century oak overmantel. The main staircase is an 18th-century dogleg design comprising two flights, flared at the foot, with a ramped scrolled handrail and enriched vase and stem balusters.

The drawing room, positioned to the left, displays full-height 17th-century panelling with fluted Ionic pilasters, a dentilled cornice, and an enriched cross beam ceiling with a central boss. It contains glazed fitted bookcases and a 19th-century Classical marble fireplace with tiled surround and overmantel mirror. The dining room, to the right, features early 19th-century decoration including an enriched cornice and ceiling with a pilastered south wall. At its north end is an elliptical arched half-round alcove with fluted Ionic pilasters and a marble fireplace. A minor open well staircase has cast-iron vine trail and stick balusters. The wainscotted kitchen contains a large fitted range with plain stone surround and mantelshelf, flanked by single chamfered segment-headed openings. The first-floor music room has a cross beam ceiling with two fluted Doric columns. Various moulded 6-panel doors are distributed throughout.

The terrace wall and steps form substantial subsidiary features. An attached paved terrace extends for approximately 80 metres and features a flat coped wall with pedestals. Central steps are finished with moulded ashlar caps to piers.

Oaks Park remained in the ownership of the Bagshawe family from the late 17th century until approximately 1987.