Hawksworth Hall

Hawksworth Hall is a large house, now used as a residential school, built by the Hawksworth family probably in the early 16th century and significantly enlarged during the mid to late 17th century, with further alterations made in the 18th century. Internal evidence dates the Great Chamber to 1611, while a chimney in the east wing is dated 1664, and a relocated datestone in the rear kitchen reads 1669.

The building is constructed in coursed dressed sandstone at the front, with coursed squared rubble to the rear, and has stone slate roofs. It comprises a composite plan of an original hall-and-cross-wings house on an east-west axis, supplemented by an additional hall-range extending east on the same axis, with two further cross-wings at the east end.

The facade is long and irregular with two storeys. The original east cross-wing, now positioned slightly left of centre, has been altered to serve as porch and entrance hall. To its left, the surviving features of the original hall range include a recessed mullioned window of five round-headed lights at first floor level, and a two-storey gabled bay (or oriel) positioned in the angle with the west wing. This bay is embellished with dripmoulds on two levels, remains of pilasters at ground floor level (with an 18th-century window inserted between them), and at first floor a transomed five-light window with round-headed upper lights. The ridge gable features coping with kneelers and an apex finial. The additions to the right comprise a longer hall range, with two unequally-gabled east wings that have gable coping with kneelers (the inner ridge is also coped).

Principal 18th-century alterations include a two-storey canted bay added to the front of the west wing with a hipped roof; a pedimented doorway to the former east wing with cornice on scrolled brackets that run out over side windows; and vertical rectangular windows with moulded architraves. Most of these are 16-pane sashes, though those on the outer east wing cross-windows have arched lights, probably dating to the 19th century. The masonry of the main range incorporates the jambs of some former windows. The return wall of the west wing displays a large external chimney stack. The return wall of the east wing, which is longer, has blocked former windows at three levels toward the front, a high chamfered plinth interrupted by later openings, and at first floor level of the further end two three-light mullioned windows with round-headed lights.

The rear elevation features a large external chimney stack toward the west end of the original hall, a tripartite stair window in the gable of the original east wing, and multiple-light mullioned windows at first floor beneath the eaves on either side of this.

Interior

The principal interior feature of interest is the Great Chamber at first floor level of the original hall. This room has a segmental-vaulted ceiling with elaborate moulded plaster geometric decoration of squares and diamonds incorporating a vine pattern and central pendant. The tympanum at the west end contains the royal coat of arms, while the east end tympanum bears the Hawksworth arms and the date 1611, flanked respectively by figures representing Temperancia, Fortitudo, Prudentia and Iustitia. A cornice and frieze feature griffons and masks. The room is lined with muntin-and-rail panelling. A large moulded Tudor-arched stone fireplace occupies the rear wall, with a wooden surround comprising fluted pilasters and an arcaded overmantel.

The east wing contains 17th-century panelling in several rooms and a contemporary staircase. In the entrance hall, an 18th-century open-well staircase with open string and two balusters per tread is present. Various panelled doors with shouldered architraves are distributed throughout the house.