Acton Reynald Hall

Acton Reynald Hall

Country house, later used as a school in the 20th century. The building dates to the early to mid-17th century and was enlarged around 1800 by J. H. Haycock (1759–1830) for Sir Andrew Corbet, with further additions around 1840, possibly by E. Haycock. The interior was extensively enlarged and altered in 1893–4 by G. H. Birch. The house is constructed of yellow and grey sandstone ashlar with slate roofs.

The structure is 2 storeys and attic over a basement. The east (entrance) front displays a chamfered plinth, moulded string course, and moulded cornice with a blocking course inscribed "ACV" and "CK", bearing a carved elephant and castle at the centre. Four parapeted gables feature moulded copings and finials, some truncated. Integral stone corner stacks with circular and square shafts rise from the main roof, with further ridge stacks of grouped circular and square shafts. The front elevation comprises 7 bays with 2-, 3- and 4-light chamfered stone mullioned and transomed windows fitted with wooden and leaded casements. Four projecting 2-storey square bays (said to date from 1601 and 1625) feature moulded cornices, blocking courses with shell lunettes and acroteria. The entrance is marked by a pair of central half-glazed doors with side lights, overlights, and flanking Ionic pilasters beneath a dentil cornice. Above stands a tetrastyle Tuscan portico with paired columns, elliptical arches, pulvinated frieze, moulded cornice, and a balustrade of square-section balusters with moulded rail breaking forward over dies. A circa 1840 two-storey service range projects to the right, set back, with 2:1:2 windows and a projecting square bay.

The south (garden) front contains 5 bays with gables. A central canted bay and turret at first-floor and attic level feature flanking scrolls and cresting bearing the Corbet coat of arms (elephant and castle). A 3-bay Tuscan portico occupies the outer bays. At the time of survey in January 1986, an unusual octagonal-piers bench or stand adjoined the house's centre, surmounted by an inverted carved capital.

The west front displays 5 bays with gables. Projecting 2-storey square bays occupy the centre and left-hand bays; the central bay bears the date "SAC/1834" (or possibly 1634), whilst that to the left is dated 1893. A 17th-century style panelled door in the angle of the left-hand bay features a knocker dated 1601 and a surround of caryatids (comparable to Moreton Corbet) supporting an entablature dated 1893. An adjoining service range of 2 storeys and attic features 3 windows with gabled semi-dormers and a central one-storey square bay with strapwork cresting. A 2-storey gabled service range projects at the rear, dated 1893.

Interior

The interior was largely redesigned in 1893–4 by Birch in neo-Jacobean and early 18th-century styles, though earlier features remain incorporated throughout.

The entrance hall features panelling and panelled door surrounds. The ceiling is panelled with thin plaster ribs and fleur-de-lys ornament at the corners. A stone fireplace from around 1800, possibly by J. H. Haycock, comprises coupled unfluted columns with acanthus capitals, a fluted frieze breaking forward over the columns and carved with squirrels, a central half-H panel with guttae and a carved raven, and a moulded cornice.

The staircase hall contains panelling. A dog-leg staircase features a panelled soffit, pulvinated bayleaf frieze, pierced carved scrolled balustrade, grip handrail, and square newel posts with carved squirrels. A round archway to the entrance hall has imposts and a key. The entrance to the western room displays a large doorcase with fluted pilasters and a broken pediment. First-floor blocked round-arched arcading on 2 sides features Doric pilasters, frieze, and cornice. An archway to a balcony above the entrance hall archway is fitted with a wrought-iron balustrade bearing a monogram. The room has a coved roof with a toplight.

The library or hall off the staircase hall contains an inglenook fireplace with a pilastered surround, gadrooned frieze dated "AD/1894" within a central cartouche, and a swan-necked pediment with a raven in a cartouche. Bookcases with pilasters, dentil cornice, and fake books line the walls. Two secret doors are concealed within the bookcases. A window seat features carved squirrels as armrests.

The left-hand ground-floor front room has dado panelling. A 17th-century style fireplace displays Ionic pilasters and an overmantel with fluted acanthus colonettes, heavy moulded cornice, and a central panel with an enamelled figure. An enriched plaster cornice and panelled plaster ceiling complete the room.

The former drawing room contains a pair of 18th-century style fireplaces with lugged architraves and panelled overmantels, together with a late 18th-century style plaster ceiling.

The head teacher's office features panelling with fluted Ionic pilasters, fluted frieze, and dentil cornice, with a bolection-moulded fireplace. A glazed entrance screen displays a broken segmental pediment, globe finials, and scrolls to the lower side panels. Adjacent is a lobby with depressed keyed arches.

The dining room is panelled with fluted Ionic pilasters and panels designed for paintings. A marble fireplace from around 1800, possibly by J. H. Haycock, has free-standing columns supporting a triglyph frieze breaking forward at the ends. A reset 17th-century enriched plaster ceiling features strapwork, pendants, medallions with heads of the worthies, and a central Royal coat of arms flanked by "I R".

Early 19th-century and late 19th-century back staircases serve upper floors, the former with stick balusters and ramped handrail, the latter with turned balusters. A bedroom corridor surrounding a central hall features radial fanlights at intervals and doorcases with fret-ornamented pilasters and triangular pediments. Some bedrooms contain early 18th-century style fireplaces.

Historical Context

Acton Reynald became the Corbet family home around 1800. The village was removed and the park enlarged or created sometime after 1841.