Becca Hall (House Only) At Se419387

ABERFORD SE43NW LS25 2/1 Becca Hall (house only) at SE419387

II

Country house, now offices. Late C18, attributed to William Lindley for William Markham; enlarged and altered in C19. Sandstone ashlar, low-pitched hipped slate roofs on 2 levels. Original house of rectangular double-depth plan, enlarged by addition of set-back receding crosswings and extension to rear between these. Classical style, symmetrical. Main range of 2 storeys and 5 bays, with 3-bay pediment breaking a balustraded parapet, has a tetrastyle Tuscan porch with entablature surmounted by a shield with scrolled bearers, a large single-storey canted bay on each side and tripartite sashed window above (probably C19 alterations), 4 sashed windows as lst-floor and an oculus in the pediment. Wings of 2 higher storeys with the appearance of 3; each has a lst-floor sillband, on each floor a tripartite sashed window in a shallow segmental-headed recess, and above the ground-floor window a low tripartite mezzanine window; a moulded cornice and low parapet with urn finials on the corners. Rear of main range remodelled in C19 to make principal entrance and staircase. Interior: central reception hall with flying stone staircase (C19); principal ground-floor rooms have moulded plaster decoration in exuberant late C19 style, and that in the east wing also has fielded panelling which may be C18. William Markham was Private Secretary to Governor General of India, Warren Hastings. (Service wing attached at west end and modern workshop wing to north are not included in the item).

Listing NGR: SE4192738743