Beaumanor Hall

Beaumanor Hall is a mansion built between 1842 and 1853 by the architect William Railton for W. Perry Herrick. The house is constructed of red brick in the Jacobean style and displays the highest quality of workmanship both externally and internally. It features stone dressings including a plinth, band, frieze and dentilled cornice with parapet coping. The exterior incorporates carved and pierced stone balustrade panels with urns positioned between stone-coped Dutch gables. The roof is of plain tile with tall brick stacks grouped in clusters of several flues, each with partly carved stone bases, banding and tops.

The main building comprises two storeys and an attic, with mullion and transom sash windows throughout, each set within stone surrounds and architraves. The symmetrical entrance front features three large gables, with the central gable projecting slightly. At its centre is a round-arched doorway with a rusticated stone surround. The keystone forms the pendant of a half-round stone oriel window positioned above. The flanking gables contain a 3-light window on both floors, while the central gable displays a 5-light window with a 4-light above it. The attic features 2-light windows. Five stone steps lead up to a pair of richly carved oak doors.

To the right of the main entrance front extends a subsidiary range of three and a half storeys, featuring similar 2, 3 and 4-light windows, a door and three Dutch gables. The avenue front to the left displays five windows; the central window forms a two-storey square bay with five lights on the ground floor and four lights above, flanked by single side lights. A 2-light window appears on either side, with the lower left example blocked. At each end are canted two-storey bays with 4-lights and side lights. Strapwork stone carving adorns the bays, while the central gable is richly carved with caryatids, volutes and other ornamental features. A gable with 2-light windows either side incorporates pierced balustrading in between.

The garden front to the rear rises via a flight of stone steps with elaborately carved stone urns on either side, leading to a central round-arched doorway with side lights and an oriel above. The gable to the left contains 2-light windows flanking a two-storey canted 4-light bay with side lights. The gable to the right features a similar arrangement. Carved tops crown the bays with pierced balustrade between the gables, which feature 2-light windows. A lower subsidiary range to the left extends two storeys with basement and attic, incorporating 2, 3 and 4-light windows of similar design and four gables. The courtyard front to the right of the entrance comprises three storeys with four 8 by 8 sash windows and a large mullion and transom window to the right, together with doors. A small interior courtyard occupies the centre of the house, also featuring similar windows.

The interior begins with an entrance vestibule containing a richly carved stone fireplace displaying the Herrick arms within a strapwork overmantle. The walls, ceiling and frieze feature carved oak panelling, as do the dado and door and window surrounds. Beyond this lies a magnificent two-storey staircase hall with an Imperial staircase. Richly carved oak balustrading continues round a gallery on three sides. Above, an elaborately panelled ceiling dated 1853 features strapwork and pendants. At the head of the first flight of stairs stands a large contemporary window of seven by three lights containing stained and painted armorial glass made by Warrington of London. A richly carved stone arch separates the hall from the garden front vestibule.

A series of reception rooms facing the avenue and garden fronts features rich strapwork ceilings and friezes, carved oak door and window surrounds, marble fireplaces, walnut bookcases in one room, and carved pelmets in another. The first floor displays simpler but similar decoration. One room on this floor, featuring a carved oak fireplace, strapwork ceiling and stained glass in its window, was designed as a bedroom and is thought to be associated with Richard III.

The mansion served as the seat of the Herrick family for three centuries from 1595. The previous building on the site dated from the 13th century and was visited by Richard II; it also served as the home of the Duchess of Suffolk, mother of Lady Jane Grey. The avenue or south front closely resembles a drawing of the south front as refaced around 1615 by Sir William Herrick, and it is almost certain that Railton was recreating this house, which was demolished in 1726. Beaumanor Hall remains Railton's only complete country house design to have survived unaltered. As the estate house for Woodhouse, it is an important landmark. Railton also designed the nearby Church of St. Paul, Woodhouse Eaves, which is listed separately.