Hedingham Castle House and detached service wing

Hedingham Castle House and Detached Service Wing

A country house built in 1718-19 for Sir Robert Ashurst, situated on the inner bailey of the castle with southerly views. The building is constructed of red brick laid in Flemish bond with stone dressings and incorporates some salvaged materials from demolished castle buildings, with a red plain tile roof covering.

The house comprises two large rectangular ranges: a principal residential range on the east and a slightly smaller former service range to the north-west, connected by a late 19th-century entrance porch. The plan is arranged around a courtyard formed with associated stable buildings.

The principal, south-facing east range displays symmetrical Georgian proportions with seven bays, two storeys and an attic, with vaulted cellars beneath. The leaded roof is concealed behind a parapet with a blocked centre and two sections of painted wood balusters flanking it. A dentilled cornice and stone eaves band run beneath. The fenestration throughout is regular, consisting of six-over-six pane sashes with gauged brick arches. The basement has blocked half openings. The central double-leaf glazed door is approached by flights of steps from both sides and has a rectangular overlight, with a stone surround featuring Ionic columns and a moulded canopy. Above is a coat of arms bearing a cross and fleur de lis. The date 1719 appears on the rainwater heads.

The five-bay east elevation features a large Victorian canted bay window with door-height sash windows and a dentilled cornice on the left, with two further windows and five first-floor windows to the right. The seven-bay north (rear) elevation displays raised channelled brickwork between the lintels of ground-floor windows and the sills of first-floor windows. The central door has a classical surround with square pilasters and moulded frieze. Five first-floor windows and three ground-floor windows to the right-hand bays light the remaining elevation, with a single-storey three-angled porch of red brick adjoining the west range on the left. This porch has a stone parapet and balusters, with a central six-panelled door, rectangular overlight, and stone surround with square pilasters and moulded frieze. A sash window lights the right face.

The two-storey, seven-bay west range, thought to be a remodelling of an existing building, is set back from the main line. The south-facing façade has a hipped roof with two red brick chimney stacks and a dentilled cornice. All bays on ground and first floors are lit by six-over-six pane sashes. The central three bays project slightly and display a moulded and dentilled pediment lit by an oculus with glazing bars and a keyed stone surround. The west elevation shows evidence of repairs with blocked and altered openings, lit on the ground floor by three windows and two on the first floor. The north (rear) elevation has two groups of three ground-floor sash windows, a door, and two windows to the left, with six irregularly spaced first-floor windows, the fourth from the left retaining margin lights. The east elevation has a door with a glazed circular feature and rectangular overlight with a sash window above, followed by a double-height round bay window lit by three first-floor windows, and two further bays lit on the first floor by two sashes. The ground floor is completely covered in creeper.

The interior retains a large proportion of high-quality fixtures, fittings and joinery, including panelled doors and extensive 18th-century panelling. Brick floors run throughout the house. The lobby and hall feature linenfold and diamond pattern panelling, while the rear hall displays 18th-century panelling and arches with a wreathed handrail to the staircase. A dog leg staircase with ornate iron balusters is located in the front hall, which has pedimented doors with panel paintings over and panelled walls. The first-floor ceiling is embellished with plasterwork.

The library walls are covered with Chinese wallpaper of the 1760s depicting bird and flower motifs on a green background, with bookshelves featuring carved edgings. The overmantel of the chimneypiece in the dining room comprises the tester from a bed belonging to Edward IV, featuring carved panels bearing the coat of arms of both the King and the De Veres, flanked by carved posts from the same four-poster bed, with an Arts and Crafts grate below. This bed was moved into the house from the Castle Keep in the early 20th century. Many rooms contain fireplaces with marble surrounds and mantels of various types including Adam style, Chinoiserie wood and iron, glazed ware with cherub supports and birds and squirrels, and carved wood depicting hops, pears and quince. Several fireplaces feature tiled backs with ship and floral motifs. One iron fireback is inscribed Blomenpot 1701 NDW. Some rooms contain alcoves. The two kitchens retain many original and 19th-century fittings. Very large vaulted cellars, some double vaulted, contain square support pillars with capitals and bases, and several feature wine racks.

A detached, mainly single-storey service wing of 19th-century date stands to the rear, constructed of red brick with grey slate roof covering. It contains original coppers in the laundry room. The west end is two storeyed with a hipped grey slate roof, possibly once a game larder and now converted to living accommodation with a north-side extension. The block forms a courtyard with the house and stables.