Ledston Lodge

SE 43 SE LEDSHAM LEDSTON PARK LS25

4/24 Ledston Lodge 3rd February 1967

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Hunting lodge or standing, now dwelling. Mid C17, for Sir John Lewis of Ledston Hall; slightly altered. Dressed magnesian limestone, lead-clad roofs. The principal element is square in plan and symmetrical in elevation, but there is a short set-back wing on the left (west) side, and another to the rear, which may be early additions. Two storeys; plinth, 1st-floor band, string course above 1st floor, plain frieze, and moulded cornice, all carried round the whole; 4 corner turrets and embattled parapets between them which may be early replacements of timber balustrades; in the centre a depressed- arched doorway with broad and slightly projecting architrave including a keystone with carved hunting horn, an entablature with a carved console on each side, and above the band a carved cartouche; two cross-windows at ground floor and three above. The turrets each have one narrow vertical window in each outer side, a string course to a plain frieze, a moulded cornice, and ogee cap with ball finial (missing from south-west-turret), all formerly surmounted by fish-weathervanes on slender masts. The set-back left wing has one cross-window on each floor to the front, a similar window at 1st floor of the side and the rear, and a 2-light mullioned window at ground floor of the side and the rear. At the rear the north-west corner which is the stair turret forms a salient between the wings, with former cross-windows in the re-entrant to the west wing blocked up (suggesting addition of this wing), but cross-windows in the other side mostly patent. The rear wing has narrow vertical windows with a transom (one on each floor of the side, one at 1st floor of the rear wall). The right-hand side of the principal block has an external chimney stack finished with brick. Flat roof with access from north-west turret; inner walls of turrets clad with large facing slabs, a narrow door in one side of each.

Interior: remains of large stone-arched fireplace include both jambs and some of the voussoirs; stone spiral staircase in turret; otherwise altered.

Listing NGR: SE4501230906