Tong Hall

Tong Hall

Tong Hall stands on the north-west side of Tong Lane and commands a fine open prospect over gently falling grounds to the west-north-west. It is approached by a short formal drive terminating in a circular carriage sweep in front of the principal south entrance. The Stable Court, including the Home Farm, lies discreetly at a slightly lower level to the west of the house.

History and Architects

Associated with the Tempest family since the 15th or 16th century, Tong Hall was rebuilt by Sir George Tempest in 1702. It is the only house of any consequence in the Bradford area to be built of brick, in part no doubt because of the proximity to Leeds. The architect who introduced this modern fashionable material was Theophilus Shelton, a lawyer and gentleman architect resident at Heath Hall outside Wakefield, and designer of The Butter Cross at Beverley. As completed by Shelton, the house consisted of a symmetrical block of 3-storey centre with 2-storey wings with a low ashlar basement—a sophisticated elevation for 1702. The south front bore an inscription in Latin recording the original building of the Hall by Sir George Tempest and naming Shelton as the architect, according to Neale's Seats.

In 1773 the house was enlarged by the architect John Platt. He heightened the wings to 3-storeys and the centre received a blind attic and a pediment, probably the original one reset. Canted bay windows were added to the north front and the interior underwent some redecoration. Some alterations took place in 1900 when the staircase was reduced from 2 flights to one, but otherwise the interiors remain entirely 18th century in character.

Exterior

The ashlar basement, largely concealed, retains traditional mullioned windows. The principal elevation features two bay wings and 3 bay centre with rusticated quoins and moulded ashlar window architraves. Platbands mark the first and second floors. The slightly projecting wings have modillion eases cornices returned as platband with fluting and paterae across and above the blind attic storey of the centre. The tympanum of the modillion pediment has delicate corn husk festoons linking paterae and 3 swagged urns crown the pediment proper.

Tong Hall, with Esholt Hall, would appear to have been one of the earliest sashed houses in the county. The existing glazing bar sashes are more likely of circa 1773.

The main entrance is an alteration of circa 1773. It features a crisply modelled architrave doorcase with carved consoles flanking a delicate festoon frieze and carrying a dentil cornice. Above, however, is the original though rather weathered Baroque achievement of the Tempest Arms. A very rare feature of the doorway is the stained glass sundial of 1709 by Henry Syles depicting the sun and the four seasons, set in the fanlight. A short flight of splayed steps with scrolled out, delicate iron balustrade of circa 1773 leads up to the doorway.

The north front is similarly detailed with the addition of the 1773 two-storey canted ashlar bays to the wings and 2 bull's eye windows flanking the central first floor window. The west side has a circa 1773 delicate Doric columned porch with similar ironwork to that on the front.

Interior

The interior retains much of the original 1702 panelling with the redecrations of 1773. The entrance hall takes up the ground floor of the centre block to the front. The walls are lined to three-quarters height with fielded panelling capped by an enriched cornice, which is swept to a sumptuously carved overmantel on the east wall featuring 2 stags, floral decoration and a grotesque head key beneath a segmental cornice. This overmantel owes much to the engraved designs of Le Pautre and Daniel Narot. Archivolt arched doorways out of the hall feature large carved masques.

A fine closed string staircase of elmwood has balusters rising from the string with sprouting leaves to feet, and a moulded swept handrail.

The western ground floor room has full fielded panelling in elm with inlay work to the overmantel. The eastern and north front rooms have restrained decoration of circa 1773.

The first floor contains another fully panelled room with enriched bolection surround to the overmantel. The first floor room to the right hand on the south front has a coved ceiling, central rose and panelled pilasters. Flanking windows all have stucco riceaux and grotesques in the French manner but after Beosin rather than 18th century in character (possibly of 1900). The subsidiary rooms have plain dado panelling and cornices.

Side stairs are dog-legged with turned banisters. The interior is therefore representative of the 2 periods of building with virtually no later alterations.