Whittington Old Hall

Whittington Old Hall is a large house of 17th-century date, possibly the remodelling of a late medieval structure. It was extended and restored in 1891 by Matthew Holding of Northampton. The building is constructed of red brick laid in English bond with sandstone quoins and dressings, featuring a plain tile roof with raised verges and brick stacks with star-shaped shafts.

The house is roughly L-shaped, with a principal range aligned east-west facing south and a north-west wing aligned north-south. The 19th-century additions comprise a northern extension to the north-west wing, a square tower positioned within the angle between the main range and wing, a northern extension to the east end of the main range, and an east porch.

The building rises to two storeys and attic. The south elevation displays four gabled bays with 3-light chamfer mullioned attic windows beneath straight hood moulds. There are 2-storey bay windows to the left, right and right of centre, all with canted corners and ovolo-moulded mullions and transoms. The centre of the first floor contains three 2-light mullioned windows, while the ground floor centre has two 3-light mullioned windows. Between the two right-hand bays are 2-light mullioned windows to both ground and first floors. A 2-storey porch to the left of centre features an ovolo-moulded semi-circular arch flanked by engaged fluted columns, with a transomed 5-light window to the first floor. The gabled wing, set back to the left, has 4-light mullioned windows to ground and first floors and 3-light mullioned windows to the attic, with a 19th-century single-storey extension in front displaying a bay window facing left.

The rear elevation dates almost entirely from 1891. It comprises gabled wings to left and right with a recessed main range in the centre featuring a large lateral external stack. A 3-storey tower to the left of the right-hand wing displays moulded storey strings, a moulded parapet string decorated with fleurons, and a crenellated parapet, with ovolo-moulded mullioned and transomed windows.

The east elevation is arranged roughly in 2:1:2 bays. A 19th-century Jacobean style gabled porch of 2 storeys and attic stands to the right of centre, with a semi-circular arch flanked by fluted pilasters and a first-floor window of 5 transomed lights; the attic contains a 3-light mullioned window. To the right of the porch are a 2-light mullioned window and a single-light window to the ground floor left and right respectively, with a cross-window to the first floor right and a single-light transomed window to the first floor left. To the left of the porch are a 2-light chamfer mullioned window to the ground floor left and a 3-light transomed window to the first floor left, with an external stack to the right.

The interior contains several significant features. The vestibule features a 19th-century open well staircase with heavy turned balusters and panelled dado, a stair window with stained glass bearing the motto "WHERE 'ERE WE ROAM AN ENGLISH MOTHER IN AN ENGLISH HOME", and a 19th-century Jacobean style timber fireplace surround heavily carved in relief.

The hall, the principal room, is now partitioned and features timber-framed walls of closely spaced studs that were restored in the 19th century but may originate from the 16th century. It contains a chamfered and stopped cross beam and joists, and a large lateral inglenook fireplace with stone jambs and a timber 4-centred head with continuous moulding around the opening.

The parlour is lined with floor-to-ceiling oak panelling, primarily 18th century but restored and rearranged in the 19th century, and has a fireplace with a 4-centred arch and Jacobean style timber surround heavily carved in relief.

The long gallery features a large 4-centred arch fireplace with hollow chamfered and roll-moulded surround, and 19th-century floor-to-ceiling panelling.

A bedroom contains a fireplace with a 4-centred arch and Jacobean style timber surround.