Flintham Hall And Adjoining Terrace Wall

Flintham Hall is a country house of major architectural significance, evolving through three principal phases of construction and alteration spanning the 17th century to the mid-19th century.

The building began as an earlier house on the site, purchased from the Disney family by Colonel Thomas Thoroton in 1789. In 1798, an unknown architect rebuilt the house, preserving and incorporating the earlier parlour wing at the east end. This rebuilt composition linked the retained eastern wing by a four-bay single-storey range to a new three-storey, seven-bay main block with its primary entrance facing west. Between 1820 and 1830, Lewis Wyatt enlarged the single-storey connecting range to form a library for Colonel Thomas Thoroton-Hildyard. The final and most extensive transformation occurred in 1853–59, when architect T. C. Hine comprehensively remodelled and recased the house for T. B. T. Hildyard Snr., employing the builders East and Hills, and introducing the Italianate style that now characterises the external appearance.

The house is constructed of brick, partly rendered, with ashlar and ashlar dressings. The roofing comprises hipped and gabled slate with five ridge stacks, single external gable, and single side wall stacks. The composition is planned as an L-shape, measuring 11 bays wide by 3 bays deep, rising to two and three storeys. Architectural detailing includes a plinth, rusticated quoins, moulded string courses and cornices, and a balustrade punctuated with urns.

The main west front presents the most elaborate elevation, dominated by a central tower porch of three stages with porte cochere. The first stage features three keystoned round-headed openings flanked by Ionic columns, with spandrels displaying heraldic arms. The half-glazed door incorporates a round-paned overlight and moulded round-headed surround, flanked by projecting traceried Venetian windows with colonettes. Above this, the tower displays round-headed windows with swan-neck pediments on each side, with a wreathed round window above. Further up, a pair of shaped lights with bracketed architraves and a round light between them precedes the uppermost stage: a balustraded square stair turret with ornate iron finials and weathervane, flanked by round-headed windows with hood moulds. Throughout the elevation, windows are predominantly sashes and casements, many with eared and shouldered architraves. Ground-floor windows feature pulvinated friezes and broken swan-neck pediments with ball finials.

The south front presents a more complex composition. To the left, a three-storey block features a projecting off-centre bay; to the right stands a canted turret with five windows per floor. Beyond this, a two-storey library block with projecting central bay is followed by a conservatory with glazed cast-iron barrel vault. The main block displays an off-centre round-headed French window flanked by lights, all carried by four Ionic columns supporting a stepped cornice, with three French windows to the left and two to the right. The library elevation features a triple round-headed mullioned casement flanked by single French windows with segmental pediments, surmounted by a Venetian window with swan-neck pediment and flanking sashes. Above this, a central triple mullioned sash arrangement is flanked by single sashes, with a further pair of shaped casements and round light above and between them at the top, again flanked by sashes. The conservatory displays transomed and mullioned glazing. The south gable features a traceried central light with flanking Ionic columns carrying a stepped cornice, with an iron fanlight within the gable itself.

The east end accommodates a conservatory to the left with three projecting bays, each containing a transomed round-headed window with lower portions blocked. To the right, a two-storey service wing incorporates part of the 17th-century house and dates from 1798; its glazing bar sashes feature segmental rubbed-brick heads. An off-centre late 20th-century Doric portico is flanked to the left by a sash and a bay window with three sashes, while to the right lies a late 20th-century opening with elliptical head followed by four sashes. On the upper floor, a keystoned oval opening flanked by single sashes appears to the left, with six sashes to the right. The courtyard side employs similar fenestration with an off-centre elliptical-headed opening; doors with segmental heads flank blank openings, as do sashes above.

The rear elevation comprises a two-storey wing from 1798 to the left, featuring glazing bar sashes arranged around a central reeded doorcase with brackets, pediment and overlight. Five taller sashes occupy the upper floor. To the right, a three-storey block displays a set-back bay with round-headed French window and flanking lights, followed by a projecting bay containing French windows flanked by a four-light round-headed casement with iron latticed window. Above this bay are two restored datestones with drawing instruments and builders' tools, inscribed "TCH" and "E & H". A similar French window appears to the right of the bay. The upper floors feature transomed mullioned casements, a large traceried mullioned stair window, two traceried round-headed windows with swan-neck pediments, three mullioned casements in the next stage, and finally two pairs of shaped casements with bracketed architraves and a round light above and between them.

The interior retains fittings, decoration and furnishings dating to approximately 1857. The conservatory features three mirror-backed recesses to the east and two round-headed recesses to the north, the latter containing a door. A two-tier round-stem marble fountain with scalloped bowls and eight wire hanging baskets occupy the space, accompanied by four notable bronze Dorothea Lily wall lamps with parian figures and glass shades. A bracketed balcony with canopy and round-headed openings lines the west side.

The library represents a particularly distinguished interior space. At each end stands a three-bay round-headed screen with paired Corinthian columns, flanked by shouldered openings and bookcases. The north side contains an elaborate marble fireplace dated 1851 and attributed to McQuoid, featuring carved and panelled wooden surrounds with a three-niche overmantel displaying figures. Flanking cupboards possess round-headed fretwork doors, while the cornice incorporates round-headed niches and crest. A gallery with elaborate brackets and wooden balustrade supporting four foliate brass lamps runs above, with fitted bookcases below. The east end houses a traceried screen; the south side opens through a three-bay arcade with tracery screen to a balcony. The west end comprises a segmental-headed central opening flanked by a bookcase and round-headed opening. An ornate plaster-panelled ceiling and two large crystal gasoliers complete the scheme.

The adjoining Little Library features a round-headed fireplace with matching overmantel mirror, fitted bookcases, and modillioned cornice. The oak-panelled Dining Room displays a segmental-headed ashlar fireplace with shields in the frieze and family portraits integrated into the panelling, beneath a moulded cornice and ornate plaster ceiling. Several bedrooms retain their circa 1857 decoration and furnishings. The tower bathroom contains a porcelain bath set in a mahogany surround with brass fittings and shower unit.

The former Gun Room preserves a late 17th-century fireplace featuring foliate scrolls and modillioned cornice, surmounted by a roundel containing a portrait of Sir Robert Hildyard, originally from Winestead Hall. A stone cantilevered dogleg principal staircase with octagonal newels, traceried balustrade and panelled dado serves the house. The stair window incorporates patterned stained glass. A stone spiral library gallery stair with hanging spherical brass lamp and a dogleg attic stair with ramped handrail and stick balusters provide additional circulation.

The adjoining terrace wall forms part of the designed landscape setting and contributes to the group value of the estate.