Walcot Hall

Walcot Hall, built around 1674-1678, is a significant large ashlar house attributed to Sir Hugh Cholmley, who purchased the property after the previous hall was demolished. The house features nine by five bays, two storeys, and an attic, topped with a hipped Collyweston stone roof that has a heavy modillion eaves cornice and pedimented dormers. The garden front faces west and showcases a three-bay pediment with alternating segmental and triangular pediments, along with a pulvinated frieze beneath the ground floor windows. The central doorway is framed by a moulded stone architrave, segmental pediment, and a semi-circular fanlight. All windows across the building have moulded stone architraves and sashes with glazing bars, while the corners are accentuated with rusticated quoins of equal length. There are four rusticated square chimneys, and a later porch on the north side features double doors with a pedimental entablature and a balustrade above. A balustraded stone parapet surrounds the basement area, accessed by a flight of steps leading to the west doorway. Inside, the drawing room boasts an 18th-century plaster ceiling and a marble chimney piece, while the panelled dining room includes a chimney piece and decorative over doors. The hall features a large reconstructed open well staircase that rises the full height of the house. Historically, the hall was owned by the Browne family until 1662, then purchased by Bernard Walcot, who sold it around 1674 to Sir Hugh Cholmley. His arms are displayed over one of the fireplaces. The property later passed to Hon Sydney Montague and around 1770 was sold to John Nash, the youngest son of Lord Campden.