Hardwick Hall

SO 39 SE NORBURY C.P. HARDWICK

7/30 Hardwick Hall (formerly listed 1.12.51 as Hardwick)

• II*

Manor house. Late medieval (C14 or C15) extended in C16 and again in late C18 with later additions and alterations. Timber-framed with plastered and painted brick infill, parts roughcast; slate roofs and brick stacks. A somewhat sprawling plan, representing at least 3 major phases of building. The earliest part is the low south-west range which is of cruck construction; in C16 a 4-bay range was added at right angles to this with a further projection on the north-east side; in late C18 this was extended to the north-west to give the impression of a double depth plan to what by then had become the main body of the house. South-west range. Mainly rubblestone, now roughcast. Original plan a 2-bay open hall with through-passage at lower end and a service bay of buttery and pantry. One storey and attic; irregular fenestration, C19 casements and 2 gabled eaves dormers on east side (rear); present main entrance also on east under cambered brick arch; axial ridge stack. On the west side a timber-framed porch was added over the original through-passage c.1600; jettied with moulded bressumer and concave lozenges in square panels to gable; the wide 4 centred arch has been filled in to form a larder and has a C19 casement inserted. Interior. 3 pairs of true crucks (Alcock apex types H and C) survive along with evidence to show that the roof has been raised; the fireplace and first floor are probably early C17 insertions (see the wide stop chamfered beams and heavy joists to the ground floor ceiling). Main range. Close-studded with cross rails and tension braces to the north- west gable. 3 storeys, the top one having been formed by the raising of the eaves (probably in late C18) and now lit by 2 inserted C19 gabled eaves dormers; also 2 C19 casements along with the outline of an earlier 3-light window on the first floor of the formerly jettied long side (see the angle bracket at the south-west corner); in the north-west gable end a 16-paned glazing bar sash window on both the ground and first floor. Behind and parallel to this range is the C16 (or slightly later) close-studded north-east-projection, extended to the north-west in late C18 to form a symmetrical west facade; a 16-paned glazing bar sash on both the ground and first floor of the gable end; on the long (north) side an early C19 reeded doorcase (now with glazed double door); 2 axial stacks in the valley with the C16 main range. Interior. Little of special interest but some good C17 doors, one with carved upper panels. Hardwick was the home of the Ambler family from the 1580'9 to early C20. Country Life, 15 June 1918 Pp. 550-5; N.W. Alcock, Cruck Construction - An Introduction and Catalogue,C.B.A. Research Report No.42 (1981) Pp.95-7, 144.

Listing NGR: SO3689790624