Gate Burton Hall

Gate Burton Hall is a country house now divided into three residences. The building comprises a core dating from 1774–80, with major additions of 1913–14 designed by Detmar Blow, and a further wing added around 1920. It is constructed of brown brick and red brick with limestone ashlar dressings, beneath black pantile and slate hipped roofs with eight stacks to the rear.

The south front is of brown brick, featuring a two-and-a-half storey, five-bay composition with a brick plinth and broad first-floor ashlar band, with a narrower ashlar band above. The three central bays project slightly and contain the principal ashlar doorway, which has a round moulded head and surround enriched with an ornate scrolled keystone and looped festoons of fruit and flowers above, topped by a moulded cornice. The doorway is fitted with partially glazed double doors and a large plain fanlight. Flanking the doorway are two five-glazing-bar sashes on each side, with five further five-glazing-bar sashes above and five smaller glazing-bar sashes above those. A moulded ashlar cornice and parapet rises above, culminating in a pediment over the three central bays. Single-storey bays flank the central projection on left and right, each containing two glazing-bar sashes with raised ashlar keystones, topped by a moulded ashlar band and ashlar-dressed red brick parapet.

The west front combines an 18th-century element with 1913–14 additions. The lower storey contains a seven-bay ground floor with red brick additions. Two glazing-bar sashes to the right are set in blind rectangular openings with raised ashlar keystones and are flanked by broad brick pilasters. An ashlar band above runs across three bays to the left, supported by two ashlar rectangular columns with flanking ashlar pilasters, behind which sit three round-headed brick arches. An ashlar-dressed brick parapet sits above. The brown brick 18th-century house rises behind, featuring five glazing-bar sashes and four smaller glazing-bar sashes above. Two bays to the left project forward, with a giant-order ashlar corner pilaster to the right having a rounded base and re-entrant curved capital, and ashlar quoins to the left. These bays contain two glazing-bar sashes with two further glazing-bar sashes above, all with raised ashlar keystones. An ashlar band and two further glazing-bar sashes above are crowned by an ashlar modillioned cornice and ashlar-dressed brick parapet.

The north front of the 1913–14 phase is of red brick with ashlar dressings, presenting a two-and-a-half storey, five-bay elevation with plinth, four giant-order pilasters with Corinthian capitals, a second-floor ashlar band, and ashlar quoins. The central ashlar doorway has a round moulded head and scrolled keystone enriched with festoons of fruit and flowers above, surmounted by a scrolled open pediment supported on ornate scrolled brackets. The panelled doors are flanked by single narrow glazing-bar sashes beneath a continuous ashlar cornice. Beyond these are single glazing-bar sashes with moulded ashlar architraves and keystones, with further single glazing-bar sashes beyond featuring raised ashlar keystones. Three glazing-bar sashes rise above the doorway with moulded ashlar architraves and raised keystones, followed by single glazing-bar sashes with raised ashlar keystones beyond. A narrow glazing-bar sash sits between the first and second windows to the left. Above, five glazing-bar sashes are arranged with a narrow glazing-bar sash again positioned between the first and second windows to the left. A modillioned ashlar-dressed pediment rises above the central three bays, pierced by a keyed oculus. An east wing of approximately 1920 is constructed of red brick with regularly placed glazing-bar sashes featuring raised ashlar keystones and moulded ashlar eaves.

The interior, designed by Detmar Blow, displays fine neo-classical character. The hall contains three giant-order plain round-headed arches with scrolled keystones. A two-flight ashlar staircase features a gallery with ornate tread ends and ornate wrought-iron banisters and upper balustrade.

Two panelled rooms are notable: that to the south-west is painted green and gold with bands of egg-and-dart decoration and a panelled plaster ceiling embellished with floral festoons and musical instruments. It contains an Adam-type white marble fireplace with an inner green marble moulded surround.

The library is lined with American cedar panelling featuring five large round-headed niches with scrolled keystones, and a large Venetian window to the east. It is heated by an ornate white marble fireplace with a central panel depicting an angel and cherubs, with an inner yellow and grey streaked marble moulded surround.

A small study to the north-east features a plaster ceiling band of acorns and oak leaves and an ornate white marble fireplace with inlaid coloured marble.

Upstairs rooms throughout the house are furnished with good-quality and often ornate fireplaces.