Ancaster Hall

Ancaster Hall is a house, now divided into flats, dating back to the 17th century, with 18th and 19th century additions and alterations. It is constructed from dressed limestone rubble with ashlar quoins and dressings. The roof is tiled, with stone coped gables, a finial at the north end, and two stone ridge stacks, one near the south end. Originally L-shaped, a parallel range was added around 1700 to the rear of the front facade. The two-storey house has garrets and a four-bay front with a plinth and a narrow, moulded eaves cornice. The centrally located early 18th century front door features six panels, a rectangular overlight, an eared stone surround, a pulvinated frieze and a pediment. It is flanked to the left by a single, two-light casement window with a stone mullion, and to the right by two similar windows. The south elevation includes a section of a moulded string course and restored windows matching those on the front. Remnants of an earlier 17th century phase are visible on the south side, including a moulded plinth. Inside, a fine early 18th century dog-leg staircase with turned balusters rises in a hall with contemporary decorated plaster ceilings. The principal rooms on the ground floor have good early 18th century oak dado panelling. A circa 18th century low stone balustrade with shaped balusters on a base of large pecked stone blocks runs in front of the house and was intended to lend dignity to the facade.