Barton Hall

Barton Hall is a small country house situated off Barton Lane, dating back to the 15th century, with significant alterations in the early 18th century, around 1800, the early 19th century, and 1925. The c1800 work may have been designed by Thomas Gardner of Uttoxeter. The house is constructed of red brick and sandstone ashlar with plain tile hipped roofs and seven brick stacks. It is two storeys and garrets in height.

A gatehouse in the northeast corner retains origins from the 15th century but was refaced in stone during the early 19th century, possibly in 1824 or 1829, as evidenced by the dates on the hopper heads. The gatehouse features two polygonal turrets with round-arched windows and pseudo-machicolation, flanked by a porch with a four-centred arch. The upper part of the gatehouse is set back and features a castellated parapet. An ashlar-faced range is contiguous with the south front.

The north elevation is of brick, with stone quoins and a coped parapet, and incorporates elements from the early 18th and 1925. The nine-bay facade, 1-2-4-2 bays, has the centre four bays set back. This section likely represents the remains of an early 18th century H-plan house, with an additional bay to the left. A four-bay balustraded single-storey addition dating from c1925 is located in the centre of the north facade. The entire facade has been heightened at some point. The centre four bays display three glazing bar sashes under flat brick arches, flanked by doorways with overlights. The upper part of the bays has double-height glazing bar sashes and an arrangement of four smaller glazing bar sashes between, with the lower ones having flat brick arches. The projecting two-bay wings each have four glazing bar sashes, with those on the right featuring flat brick arches. An additional bay to the left contains a glazed door and sash above.

The south front has a three-plus-five bay layout. The main part, dating from around 1800 and possibly by Thomas Gardner of Uttoxeter, is five bays symmetrical, with the central bay advanced and pedimented. Features include angle pilasters, a string course connecting the sills of the upper windows, and a heavy cornice. A tall central doorway has a moulded architrave and bracketed hood, with glazed double doors and overlight. This is flanked on each side by two tall glazing bar sashes with moulded architraves. Five smaller, similar windows are above, with the central one featuring a horizontal dripstone. A plainer mid-to-late 18th century three-bay section is set back to the left, but retains a heavy cornice. Three tiers of diminishing-height glazing bar sashes are present.

The west elevation incorporates a three-storey Tudor-style bay window of 1925, featuring mullioned and transomed windows and a balustraded parapet. The interior includes a long entrance hall within the gatehouse, featuring an early 19th century Gothic rib vault and a Perpendicular Gothic window. A staircase hall has two segmental arches and an open-well staircase with carved tread ends, stick balusters, and a wreathed handrail. Main reception rooms exhibit ornate plaster cornices and early-to-mid 19th century wood or marble chimney pieces. The morning room features a re-used Jacobean chimney piece, while the bedrooms showcase delicate late Georgian detailing, complete with reeded cornices.