Holywell Hall

Holywell Hall is a substantial mansion built in 1856 for mill owner Benjamin Mellor, as recorded by a date stone. Constructed from high-quality ashlar gritstone, the building is terraced into a hillside and displays Italian Renaissance detailing. It is two storeys and an attic in height, with three storeys on the south side, overlooking the valley.

The building features a plinth, plat bands and sill bands, rusticated quoin pilasters, a stepped frieze, a boldly moulded cornice, and a parapet with balustraded sections. The principal entrance is located in the east gable-end, featuring a nearly full-width break with a slight projection. The central three bays contain an imposing two-storey porch, square in plan. Above the porch is a pedimented gable with an archivolt arched central attic window, flanked by oeil de boeufs with architrave surrounds and keys. The porch itself has archivolt arched side openings with balustrading, pilasters to the corners, and Doric columns in antis rising from pedestals levelled with the side balustrades, topped by a Doric entablature. The first-floor level has doubled Ionic pilasters to the corners, and the main entablature is broken forward over with a balustraded parapet above.

The north front, which faces the road (the rear elevation), is more functional in design with paired and single sash windows in architrave surrounds, and a canted stone bay window on the first floor. The main front overlooks the valley and has a balustraded terrace extending to the east. This elevation is three storeys high, featuring rusticated quoin pilasters, plat bands, and an entablature extending from the entrance gable-end. It has four window bays, with architrave framed single windows alternating with full-height canted bay windows. A large ashlar pedimented dormer with archivolt arched windows sits above the cornice on both the front and rear of this elevation. The west gable end is plain, with close-set, grouped round-headed windows.

The interior includes spacious, well-proportioned rooms, retaining original plasterwork and fireplaces, along with a good cast-iron balustrade to the staircase.