Brackenborough Hall

Brackenborough Hall

A small country house of complex phasing, situated on a moated site overlooking the site of a medieval village to the south. The building dates from the 17th century, with major remodelling in 1733–4, further alterations in the late 18th century, extensions of circa 1855–60, and 20th-century additions.

The house is constructed of red brick with painted ashlar dressings. Roofs are of plain tile and pantile, hipped to the north with tumbled ashlar coped gables to west and east. The eaves feature moulded brick with guttering embellished with lion head motifs. Three gable stacks with ashlar bands and moulded ashlar coping rise from the ridges, with a single plain gable stack to the rear. Dormers include three hipped examples with casements on the south front, two semi-circular dormers with fixed glazing bars on the west front, and a large 20th-century flat-headed dormer on the east front.

The plan is L-shaped with two storeys and attics. The west front presents five bays of 1733–4, distinguished by an ashlar-dressed plinth and painted ashlar first-floor band. Five ashlar steps lead to a central doorway with a moulded pediment, entablature with triglyphs and guttae, and a rusticated doorcase with overlight and paired panelled doors. The doorway is flanked by two windows on each side, lowered in the late 18th century and fitted with traceried "Chippendale" upper sashes and plain lower sashes; these retain brick wedge lintels and raised ashlar keystones of 1733–4. Above are five glazing-bar sashes, all with brick wedge lintels and raised keystones; the window over the central doorway features a feather motif.

The west side displays four bays of 1733–4, including a gabled bay to the right and a small brick plinth running to within about one foot of the south front. To the left are two 17th-century bays, identifiable by a plain brick gable stack and limestone coursed rubble plinth. Three bays of circa 1855–60 are set back further to the left. The elevation includes four ashlar steps leading to a doorway with a glazed door, a blocked window with segmental head, and a glazed door with a clear break in brick bonding. A 20th-century sliding sash with segmental head is positioned to the left of a giant-order 17th-century brick pilaster at the corner. A two-light casement with segmental head is set back to the left, with a blocked window with segmental head above to the right. Four early 18th-century glazing-bar sashes with wooden lintels occupy the left portion, possibly reset from the south front lower windows when replaced in the late 18th century. A 19th-century glazing-bar sash with wooden lintel and a two-light 20th-century casement complete this side.

The east side includes a small late 19th-century block built into the re-entrant corner and raised in the early 20th century, with a small 20th-century cloakroom block attached to the right, all with 19th- and 20th-century fenestration. A 17th-century wall set back to the right features a limestone and greenstone rubble plinth and a giant-order brick pilaster at the corner. A large 20th-century three-light sliding sash with wooden lintel is positioned above a blocked window. Two bays of circa 1855–60 are set back to the right with 19th- and 20th-century doorway and fenestration.

Internally, a three-flight return staircase of 1733–4 features scrolled tread ends, three turned balusters with square knops to each tread, a moulded handrail, and plain turned newels. The dining room retains late 18th-century fielded panelling with a fireplace flanked by fluted Ionic pilasters and a west doorway with pediment, entablature, and eared doorcase. The drawing room and main bedrooms display late 18th-century fielded panelling, and all but one bedroom preserve original shuttering. A large 17th-century chimney breast occupies the north wing. 18th-century cellars with 11th- and 20th-century brickwork survive beneath the house. The roof of 1733–4 remains intact over the south wing.