Lowesby Hall

Lowesby Hall is a country house dating from the early 18th century. It is constructed of red brick with blue brick headers and has a Swithland slate roof. The building is square in plan, with two storeys and attics.

The south east front, which serves as the main entrance, originally comprised nine bays, with the outer two bays on each side formerly projecting hipped gabled wings. These wings were linked by the addition of a full-height corridor, likely in the 18th century. A central, full-height canted bay features a doorcase with a scrolled open pediment and a shield of arms belonging to the Fowkes family above the window. The windows on either side of the central bay are floor-length sashes; all other windows on both floors are 32-light sashes, each with finely gauged brick heads. Some windows are blind and painted. A slight projecting brick string-course runs between the floors, topped by a modillion eaves cornice. Behind the corridor, a section of the original building line is visible, displaying a large shield of arms of the Wollaston family flanked by oculi within a pediment, also with a modillion cornice.

The north east elevation is six bays wide and raised on a basement with blank window recesses. It features 32-light sash windows with finely gauged brick heads, with two windows being blind. The north west, garden front, is eleven bays wide, arranged as four bays, three bays, and four bays. A central section is topped with a pediment, and includes a doorcase with a scrolled open pediment. All windows here are 32-light sashes. A brick string-course rises over the central section, and three segmentally arched lights are visible in the pediment. A lower wing extends to the right and incorporates work by Edwin Lutyens dating from 1910. This wing is two storeys high and has four bays, with a triple-light sash window to either side of a doorcase with an open pediment, a 12-light sash window to the right, and four upper 2-light casements above. Gable and axial stacks are present.

The central saloon contains a painted ceiling attributed to the studio of Verrio. This was severely damaged in a fire in 1980, but surviving sections depict Venus with putti within the coving. A bolection moulded fireplace sits within this room alongside panelling with pedimented doorcases. Much original panelling remains throughout other rooms. The early 18th century principal staircase was remodelled to accommodate the altered plan following the insertion of the front corridor and now stands partially freestanding on ornate Corinthian wood columns. The staircase has slender balusters, alternately fluted and tightly twisted, three to each tread, and a continuous rail. Richly carved tread ends, a cornice, and a handrail are also present, along with a dado panel.

It is believed the building incorporates an earlier core, possibly of Ketton stone. A fire in 1980 destroyed the secondary staircase and some panelled interiors, including a room remodelled by Lutyens, but all damage has been faithfully reinstated.