Tower At South Kelsey Hall

The tower at South Kelsey Hall is the remains of an angle tower from a large Tudor house, which was later converted into a dovecote. It dates from the mid-16th century and has undergone some alterations in the 19th century. The structure is built of brick with ashlar dressings and features a slate roof with lead dressings. It has an octagonal plan, with ashlar quoins at the corners and a repair to the rear wall also made of ashlar. The top brick courses were added in the 19th century and include a dentillated and corbelled eaves course. There is one cusped light at mid-level on the south side, while other openings are 19th-century insertions. The original hall was designed as a courtyard flanked by octagonal towers topped with leaded domed roofs, and a drawing of this design is preserved in the Gough collection at the Bodleian Library. The hall was the residence of the Hansard family and was acquired by Sir Francis Ayscough in the 16th century. His sister, Anne Askew, was martyred at Smithfield in 1546. Earthworks of the original moat still remain.