Salford Hall

Salford Hall is a country house, now hotel, comprising three ranges arranged in a U-plan with a wall closing the courtyard to the rear. It represents a complex building history spanning from the late 15th century to the 18th century.

The west range dates from the late 15th century and was probably part of a house built for the Abbots of Evesham. It is timber framed with close studding and plastered infill, together with some coursed lias and rendering to the north front. The north and east ranges were constructed in 1602, though they were wrongly restored as 1662. They were built for John Alderford, whose motto appears on the datestone, and completed for his son-in-law Charles Stanford. These ranges are constructed of lias ashlar with limestone dressings and quoins. The building is throughout covered with a tile roof, mostly of 20th-century date. The west front of the west range has two lias stacks with brick shafts; all other chimneys are brick. The building stands at two storeys with attics.

The north front displays a six-window range with a projecting two-storey porch and a balancing five-light bay window with two transoms on the left side. The centre is recessed with a three-light window, all features having shaped gables. The porch is distinguished by a four-centred arch and moulded architrave with a decorated datestone above, a three-light window over, and a taller window above that. Within are 20th-century glazed doors. Stone mullioned windows with some old glazing bars are found to both north and east ranges, mostly featuring transoms. The first-floor windows are three-light. A bellcote crowns the roof. To the right is a lower, wider range with a broad gable, containing two mid-18th-century sash windows to each floor and a round window in the gable. To the left, the east range projects forward with a two-storey four-light rectangular bay window and a four-light window above in a shaped gable.

The east front rises to two storeys and attic, with taller first floor. The five-window range features first, third and fifth bays as five-light rectangular bay windows, continued up into the attic with four-light windows and shaped gables. A studded door occupies the central bay. The west range exhibits entirely irregular fenestration. Two large external projecting stacks mark this elevation. A small projecting 15th-century wing stands adjacent to the larger stack. This wing is two storeys of lias with corbelling out on the right to first floor and small two-light stone mullions; the third storey is of close studding. The left part of the range is rendered while the right part shows some lias to ground floor. A 16th-century door opens to the courtyard.

The interior of the west range retains much exposed timber framing. The ground floor room at the south end contains a beam with stylised cable moulding. The north room preserves 17th-century panelling of varying design and panel doors with H-hinges. An open well staircase with Chinese Chippendale type balustrade incorporates a newel post from the original winder staircase, which survives from first to second floor with stop-chamfered soffit to each tread. On the first floor are two early 18th-century panelled rooms. In one, part of a late 16th or early 17th-century plaster heraldic overmantel remains visible behind a missing panel. Seventeenth and 18th-century panelled doors are present. The second floor contains a four-centred arched fireplace, possibly of 15th-century date, near which lies a hiding place disguised as a built-in cupboard with shelves.

The north range features a hall and original screen with moulded muntins and rails, one opening later filled in. A later stud wall rises above the screen. The door from the screens passage to the west range has a moulded wood surround. The hall itself has a shallow four-centred arched fireplace and some armorial glass in the bay. A doorcase to the east range, of early to mid-18th-century date, displays a shouldered architrave with keyblock and open pediment bearing a carved coat of arms and scroll work, with fine double-leaf panelled doors.

The east range contains a solid timber-framed closed well staircase. Its rooms have been much altered and include some armorial glass in windows. The second floor former long gallery is now subdivided. The Stanfords were Roman Catholics, and in the early 18th century part of the ground floor of the east range was converted to a chapel, though this has not survived.