Harvington Hall And Attached East Bridge

Harvington Hall and attached east bridge is a country house with bridge, probably dating from the 14th century but substantially remodelled in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The building was partly demolished around 1701 with some remodelling at that time, and underwent restoration in 1930.

The hall is constructed of brick with stone dressings, incorporating timber-framing throughout, and has a tile roof. It follows a basic L-plan with one limb extending to the north and another to the west. The north limb contains a medieval timber-framed range of four bays, with a north tower of 17th-century date and, at its south end, a late 16th to early 17th-century block. The range to the west is late 16th to early 17th-century in date and comprises a first-floor banqueting hall, with the kitchen positioned at the south-west corner and the main staircase to the north-west. A hall, probably extending northwards from the staircase, was demolished around 1701.

The entrance front faces east and features a two-storey range to the centre with three-storey blocks at each corner, the left-hand block having an attic. The left-hand block displays a 4-light stone mullioned window to each floor, a gable to the attic, and a stack with two diamond-plan shafts. The central block has five windows arranged with three 2-light casements alternating with two 4-light casements under gablets; the ground floor follows a similar pattern except for a large window to the right of centre, which serves as the entrance with two large doors approached by the east bridge. The right-hand block has a 3-light casement to each floor under timber lintels, with windows at half level for the staircase, including an oval window. On the ground floor is a boxed glazing bar sash under a segmental head. The detailing of the rest of the building is similar to the left-hand block, except for the elevation to the courtyard of the west limb, which is ashlared where the probable hall range stood and is dated by "1701" marked on the rainwater head.

The interior contains extensive traces of an ambitious scheme of wall painting dating from the late 16th to early 17th centuries, including the Nine Worthies depicted in a second-floor passage. The main staircase is a 1930s replica of the original, which was removed to Coughton Court in Warwickshire. In the banqueting hall are remnants of later 17th-century panelling with elaborate painted decoration. The house is particularly noted for its collection of priests' hiding holes, notably one contrived under the main staircase entered via hinged steps and another in Dr Dod's Library accessed through a hole created by swinging a stud.

The east bridge comprises a single segmental brick arch supporting plain ashlar parapets. The house stands on an island, along with the Malt House and the chapel, which is surrounded by a water-filled moat. The building is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.