Caunton Manor House and adjoining outbuildings and cottage.

Caunton Manor House and adjoining outbuildings and cottage.

Manor house. Early 18th century, enlarged and altered around 1902. Further enlarged and refronted in neo-Georgian style by Houfton around 1926. Brick with ashlar dressings and hipped and gabled slate roofs. The building has a chamfered plinth, first floor band, modillioned eaves and pediment. There are three side wall, single rear wall, two gable and five ridge stacks, one external. The house is three storeys, nine bays wide by four bays deep, in an irregular L-plan.

The facade has glazing bar sashes with stepped keystoned lintels and shutters. The main south front features a projecting pedimented central bay. To the left is a moulded and panelled doorcase from the 18th century with foliate curved brackets, keystone, dentillated cornice and pediment, shaped fanlight and glazed door. To the left of this is a single sash, and to the right are seven sashes, with the two furthest to the right in round headed recesses. Above are nine sashes, the middle five with aprons with paterae. Above again is a swagged round window in the pediment. Rainwater heads are inscribed 'S H'. The east front has projecting bays to left and right, and a single bay ashlar porch with moulded plinth, channelled rustication, pulvinated frieze, modillioned cornice and open pediment, and stepped moulded parapet. It contains a moulded eared doorcase with flanking Tuscan columns, stepped keystone and fanlight, with a panelled door. Single sashes are in each side, and to the left is a sash in a round headed recess, with another sash to its right. Above to the right is a glazing bar stair light flanked by single sashes. Above again are four sashes of different sizes. The west front has two casements to the left, one barred, and two sashes to the right, all with segmental heads. Above are two casements to the left and two sashes to the right, all with segmental heads.

To the east is an adjoining stable range from the early 19th century with three bays and cogged eaves. To the left is a plank door and to its right a similar door with overlight, flanked by single casements with segmental heads. Above are three Yorkshire sashes. Rainwater heads are dated 1834 and 1926. An adjoining wing to the west has a 20th century casement, glazed door and flanking lights all under a continuous timber lintel. Above are two Yorkshire sashes. An adjoining barn of four bays was rebuilt in facsimile in 1976.

A cottage adjoining the rear of the house dates from the 19th century. It has to the north an off-centre square opening flanked by single iron casements with segmental heads. Above are two Yorkshire sashes with segmental heads.

The interior contains features and decoration from the 18th and 19th centuries. The billiard room has moulded skirting and chair rail, timber pilasters in corners and flanking the fireplace, and a moulded Classical doorcase with foliate frieze and cornice. A large 19th century marble fireplace has Ionic columns, blocked frieze with lion masks and central relief panel, a panelled overmantel and moulded cornice. The dining room has moulded chair rail, plaster wall panels, some with ears, a festoon with scallops over the fireplace, moulded cornice, an oval ceiling festoon and foliate boss. Doors have moulded architraves, foliate friezes and cornices; double doors to the east have a palmette frieze. A carved 19th century timber fireplace features Atlantes, heavily moulded architrave, panelled frieze and mask. The library has moulded cornice, a double door with moulded architrave, panelled frieze and mask, and a timber fireplace with foliate frieze. The drawing room has moulded skirting and chair rail, plaster wall panels with ears, panelled swagged overmantel, moulded modillioned cornice, a panelled ceiling with quadrant corners and scallop motifs, central boss and chandelier. Moulded doorcases have foliate friezes, moulded pediments and above are large festoons with masks. An Adam style panelled marble fireplace has herms with paterae, frieze with relief panels, and patterned iron fireback. The gun room has an early 19th century hob grate and glazed fitted cupboard. The hall has a 19th century marble fireplace with Ionic columns and Delft tiles. The main stair is in 18th century style, incorporating 18th century remains, with a double dogleg with landings, fluted Corinthian newels, moulded ramped handrail and barley sugar balusters. It has a carved and moulded string with scrolls. A painted room on the first floor has five painted canvas panels of biblical subjects, timber panels and dado painted in trompe l'oeil to resemble Classical mouldings and swagged borders, said to be Swedish from the early 18th century. Other rooms have plaster wall panels, moulded cornices, a single Classical marble fireplace, a moulded 19th century marble fireplace, four early 19th century hob grates, and panelled fitted cupboards and doors. Minor stairs have turned or square newels and stick balusters.

To the north is a linked stable range from the 19th century, brick with hipped pantile roof, cogged eaves, single storey, five bays wide by three bays deep. To the west is an entry and to the right are three pairs of garage doors. The south front has five stable doors and five slatted casements, all with segmental heads. This was once the home of Dean Hole, a well-known late 19th century character.