Blunden Hall And Old Hall Cottage

SO 3288 BISHOP'S CASTLE C.P. BRAMPTON ROAD (north- east side) 12/7 Blunden Hall and Old - Hall Cottage (formerly 28/7/50 listed as Old Hall)

• II*

Shown on OS map as Blunden Hall and Hall Cottage. House, now 2. Mid-C16 and C17 with early-C19 alterations, and mid- to late-C19 and C20 additions. Timber framed with painted plaster infil panels, later slate-hung gable-end to south-east, rendered limestone rubble addition with red brick dressings at south-east end of north- east cross wing, and red brick C20 addition with stone dressings to south-east. H-plan; 3-framed bay C16'hall' range with extended 3-framed bay C16 cross wing to north-east, and 3-framed bay C17 cross wing to south-west. 2 storeys. Large brick ridge stack off-centre to south- west, and brick ridge stack and stack off-ridge on cross wing to north- east. Framing: close studding with centre rail; north-east cross wing with short corner braces, jettied first floor to north-west and plain brackets to formerly jettied gable-end, now altered; hall range jettied to north-west with moulded bressumer and timber with carved stylized flower decoration; south-west cross wing with long straight tension braces, jetted first floor on 3 sides with refaced bressumer and plain brackets, underbuilt to south-east, and plain brackets to formerly jettied gable ends, now rebuilt. South-east front: 'hall'range with 2 first floor 2-light casements; projecting ground floor C20 addition with stone coped parapet and two 3-light stone- mullioned leaded casements flanking central boarded door; left-hand cross wing with first floor 3-light casement and ground floor half- glazed door with margin lights, and C19 lean-to_conservatory in front; right-hand cross wing with mid- to late-C19 segmental-headed wooden cross window on each floor and C20 door to left. South-west front: 3 first floor glazing bar sashes, that in centre of 16 panes; 2 ground floor glazing bar sashes, that to left tripartite. Evidence of former 2-storey timber framed porch (possibly with balcony) to north-west of hall range (see disturbed framing and segmental-arched panel). Interior: C16 moulded cross-beam ceiling in hall range with carved leaf pattern on underside (c.f. Norton House, Church Street); dragon- beam in south-west cross wing with similar decoration; C18 panelling in central ground floor rooms; probably C18 painting on fireplace lintel in south-west cross wing; carved and moulded bressumer reused as post in staircase hall; mid- to late-C18 dog-leg staircase with turned balusters, moulded ramped handrail, columnular middle newel post and square bottom newel post. The house was begun by Andrew Blunden in the mid-C16.

Listing NGR: SO3253488383