Hardwick Old Hall

Hardwick Old Hall is a country house, now derelict, owned by the National Trust and managed by English Heritage. The main structure dates to the early 16th century, with significant additions and alterations made in 1587-90. It is constructed from coursed rubble sandstone and ashlar, and the roof is missing. Remains of coped gables and parapets are visible. The house stands four and five storeys high above a basement storey and has an irregular plan and elevations.

The south elevation has ten bays, with the two bays on the left projecting and featuring a plain parapet. Basement windows are single and three-light mullioned; above these are cross windows, and a further two floors of three-light windows with transoms. A taller, parapetted bay to the right contains five three-light windows with one and two transoms. Two irregular gabled bays are set back to the right, featuring cross windows and three-light windows with transoms. The second gable has an external stack. To the right is a projecting, parapetted, and gabled bay with cross windows and three-light mullioned and transomed windows. Segmental relieving arches are present. A projecting range to the right has two square bays with the remains of three-light windows with transoms, the top storey having three transoms.

The north elevation is largely ruinous in the eastern part, but four bays remain virtually intact to the right, with a gable and parapet. The basement floor has two and three-light mullioned windows, the two floors above have cross windows, and the top floor has three-light windows with two and three transoms.

Chamfered coped walls enclose a rectangular area to the north, and at the northeast corner stands a two-storey lodge, rendered with quoins and a balustraded parapet. It has three-light mullioned and transomed windows to the ground floor and similar three and five-light windows above.

The plan of the Old Hall is notable for its revolutionary placement of the hall across the house, at a right angle to the facade. The house originally contained two full-scale great chambers, and substantial remains of decorative plasterwork by Abraham Smith are present.