Patshull Hall And North West And North East Wings To North Forecourt

Patshull Hall and its north-west and north-east wings, forming the north forecourt, is a country house dating to circa 1750, originally designed by James Gibbs. The house was extended in the 18th century and again in the mid to late 19th century, and has undergone subsequent alterations. It is constructed of ashlar with hipped slate roofs.

The north front is three storeys high, with a basement, featuring a modillion cornice and parapet. It has a 2:7:2 bay arrangement, with balustraded turrets projecting from the corners. The central seven-bay section has a three-bay pedimented break. The windows are predominantly plate glass sashes in moulded architraves, with cornices to the ground floor and to the first floor of the turrets. Balustraded panels are below the first-floor windows of the turrets. Small mezzanine windows are incorporated into the outer bays of the central block and are continued as decorative panels in the centre. A projecting, mid-19th century Doric porch with an enriched tympanum sits above an arched doorway, and is flanked by balustrades leading to the forecourt areas. Lower, two-storey, hipped coach house and stable wings frame the forecourt. These have a 3:1:2 bay arrangement and feature large, rusticated, roughly central entries, over which are pedimented dormers. The windows are glazing bar sashes. Recessed links connect these wings to ancillary wings extending to the north-west and north-east, featuring niches that correspond to the rear of the triumphal gateway.

The south front is also three storeys high, with a corbelled cornice and parapet, and has a 2:3:2 window arrangement. The central block projects slightly. The central three first-floor windows are round-headed, featuring raised keystones and panelled pilasters, while small mezzanine windows are incorporated into the outer blocks and continued centrally as blind panels. External pelmets are present on the first and third floor windows. French casements are located to the left of a central, solid verandah, which is supported on rusticated piers, and flanking stairs.

The interior entrance hall features fluted Ionic pilasters, a modillioned cornice with egg and dart moulding, and a decorative plaster ceiling. A fireplace in the south wall has an enriched Coade stone surround and a blind, pedimented panel above, with scrolls on either side. Marble-topped stands are positioned on console brackets to either side of the entrance. Doors to the east and west have moulded cornices and enriched friezes. A further door in the south wall, with a modillioned pediment on console brackets and an enriched frieze, leads to the saloon. The saloon has tall, round-headed windows facing a south-facing balcony, and large plaster panels for former paintings. Console brackets support a heavily decorated plaster ceiling. The staircase hall contains a magnificent open-well staircase with twisted balusters, pendants, and orb finials on the newels. Several service staircases have turned balusters; numerous fireplaces have marble surrounds, and there is extensive moulded plasterwork, with egg and dart moulding being the most prevalent type.