Hinchingbrooke House

Huntingdon BRAMPTON ROAD 1. ------------- 5140 TL 27 SW 5/4 10.1.51. Hinchingbrooke House I GV

1. In origin an Augustinian nunnery suppressed in 1538 and between then and 1627 largely rebuilt and extended by the Cromwells. There was a serious fire in 1830 and the house was restored/rebuilt by Blore; it was further restored in 1894 and again in the 1960's. During the most recent restoration the entrance to the chapter house was discovered, but otherwise little of the medieval fabric is visible. The buildings are irregular, and of 2 and 3 storeys. They are of stone and ancient brick, the Blore rebuilding being in stone, and with a large wing in brick with stone dressings of 1894. The buildings are castellated throughout and have many tall chimneys of the Tudor type. The kitchen wing to the north has timber framed gables. The most noteable external feature is the semi-circular bow window of the library, dated 1602 on the parapet. This originally had an open loggia on the ground floor, and was moved and reconstructed in its present form by Blore in 1830. There are other canted bays which also appear to be of Blore's rebuilding. The interior of the main rooms was entirely rebuilt by Blore, mostly in a Jacobean character. Some older fittings remain, the main staircase panelling by Vennard circa 1663, and the library chimney piece dated 1580 are especially noteworthy, There is also the very fine staircase from Rolls Park installed in the 1960's restoration by Marshall Sisson, this is sumptuously carved, and dates from the late C17. (RCHM.10).

Listing NGR: TL2273971477