Gosfield Hall

Gosfield Hall is a grand mid-16th century quadrangular house that has been extensively remodelled over successive centuries. The east front was rebuilt for John Knight after around 1715. The south front was remodelled by Sir Thomas Millington around 1700 (according to Pevsner), and the north front was remodelled for Earl Nugent prior to around 1788. Further major restorations were carried out for Samuel Courtauld (owner of Halstead weaving mills) between around 1854 and 1881.

The house is built mainly of red brick with decorative blue brick diapering, though the south and north fronts have stucco facing. The roofs are plain red tile throughout. The building has two storeys with attics and cellars.

West Front

The west face has five symmetrical bays with 19th-century gabled angle projections on either side and five gables across the original frontage. The gables feature moulded brick parapets and finials. A moulded brick corbel table on plaster runs along the elevation except at the gables. Four two-shaft octagonal brick chimney stacks rise from the roofline, each with moulded bases and caps. The two central chimney stacks are external and crow-stepped, with recessed arches and seats at their bases. Matching recessed arches appear below the other stacks. The gables project forward slightly.

The windows are stone-framed with leaded lights. The attic windows are mostly three-light with a pattern of 1:1:1:1:1:1:1, though the central entrance gable has a clock face above and the 19th-century projections have circular lights. At first floor level there is a seven-window range of six-light windows with transoms, except for a four-light window with transoms and moulded brick crenellations to the left, and five-light bays in the 19th-century projections. The ground floor has a 1:1:0:0:0:1:1 arrangement of four-light windows plus 19th-century five-light bays.

The central entrance gateway is of moulded brick with jambs and a four-centred arch set within a square head with a label above. Ornamental brick shields decorate the spandrels. Above the central entrance is an 18th-century bell cote with a plain polygonal base, moulded timber supports, and a moulded and dentilled cornice surmounted by a ribbed lead-covered head with ball finial and weathervane.

South Front

To the left is the red brick, red plain-tiled two-storey return wall of the 19th-century projection, which has a central red brick chimney stack with two octagonal shafts and a two-window range of small-paned vertically sliding sashes with segmental heads.

The main south range has a hipped red-tiled roof with six flat-headed dormers and five panelled red brick chimney stacks. The stucco-faced elevation is symmetrically arranged across seventeen bays over two storeys and attics. The central three bays project forward beneath a pediment and are rusticated, with a moulded pediment and metopes and triglyphs to the frieze. Bands run above and below the first floor windows with pilasters between them. The ground floor windows have semi-circular heads with keystones. The two flanking bays are rusticated at ground floor level with rusticated arches to the first floor windows. Pilasters separate the second and third bays and mark the right angle. The five end bays have a moulded and dentilled cornice. The windows are vertically sliding sashes. Windows two and sixteen have panels beneath. A central band and plinth complete the elevation.

East Front

The east face is symmetrical and built of red brick with blue brick diapering. The roofs are red-tiled and hipped to the two projecting angle bays. The elevation extends across seventeen bays. The five central bays are raised with a panelled and stone-capped parapet and moulded cornice beneath. Apart from these five bays, the building is two storeys with attics. There are eight dormers with moulded pedimented or segmental heads, a moulded and dentilled eaves cornice, and a moulded central band. Pilasters mark the angles of the projecting bays.

The window arrangement is 3:3:5:3:3 of small-paned vertically sliding sashes, except in the five central bays. The projections have three-bay returns with similar windows. The five central bays have five recessed central panels with gauged brick arches and moulded bands above and below. At first floor level these five bays contain stone-framed three-light leaded windows with two transoms and labels above. At ground floor they have four tall small-paned vertically sliding sashes with segmental brick arches and moulded keystones.

The central doorway is particularly fine, with fluted Ionic columns set against a rusticated background, upswept moulding to the frieze, and a dentilled and moulded segmental head. The double doors each have eight panels. The right and left projections have central six-panelled doors with small-paned lights above.

North Front

To the right is the projecting red brick return of the west projection, with a red-tiled roof and external chimney stack with two octagonal shafts. This two-storey section has three scattered vertically sliding sash windows with glazing bars and a part-glazed door to the left. Timber supports and carved brackets carry a shallow porch pediment with segmental head and pendant beneath. A moulded central band runs along the left return.

The main north face is stucco-fronted across eighteen bays. It is two storeys with attics. The central seven bays are raised with a moulded and dentilled parapet, enriched cornice and moulded band beneath. Red plain-tiled roofs extend to right and left, hipped to the left, with a flat-headed dormer to the left. There are four red brick chimney stacks, panelled with crenellated bases except for the rightmost stack which has a moulded base and attached shafts. A dentilled eaves cornice runs across the elevation and the central band continues through.

The centre bays are rusticated with Corinthian pilasters between the tall first floor windows, which have line arches above. The window arrangement is 6:7:5 of small-paned vertically sliding sashes, with the far right being an extension bay window of three lights. The forward extension to ground floor has three windows. Pilasters mark the right and left ranges. The central bays have two ten-panelled doors with moulded pilasters, scroll brackets and moulded segmental heads. To the left is a six-panelled door with moulded surround and louvre above.

Courtyard: West Face

The internal west face of the courtyard is red and black brick with red plain-tiled roofs. Lion masks decorate the gutters. The central gable projects forward with pinnacles and a moulded brick corbel table on plaster. A moulded stone band runs centrally across the facade. The two-storey elevation has a seven-window range at first floor and six windows at ground floor of leaded four-light stone windows with moulded labels, except for the central entrance gable which has a similar six-light window with centre transom.

The moulded brick central entrance has jambs and a four-centred arch with shields to the spandrels and a moulded label. Later stone statues with flowing drapery stand to right and left, with a stone coat of arms above. Four circular Roman Emperor head plaques appear above the first floor windows. Moulded stone surrounds with labels above frame vertically boarded, nailed doors to right and left. Ornate rainwater heads and brackets complete the downpipes.

Courtyard: South Face

The corbel table continues along this face. The two-storey elevation has a moulded stone band centrally. At first floor there is a five-window range and at ground floor a four-window range of stone, leaded five-light windows with centre transoms and moulded labels above, except for the first floor left window which is a matching three-light version. The nailed six-panelled door below this window has matching sidelights and four lights above. Three shafts between the ground floor windows are surmounted by carved heads. A brick plinth runs along the base. An ornate head and brackets adorn the rainwater pipe. This face has probably been partly rebuilt.

Courtyard: North Face

This face is similar to the south face except that the main windows are of six lights. The three centre bays have an additional storey containing three six-light windows without transoms. The door is positioned to the right.

Courtyard: East Face

The internal east face extends across ten bays. The forward five central bays rise to three storeys with stone coping to a panelled parapet and moulded cornice beneath. There are two central moulded brick bands, the upper one dentilled, with three-light windows between them. Red-tiled roofs cover the outer two-storey bays. The window arrangement is 3:5:2 ranges of stone three-light leaded windows with centre transoms and moulded labels, except in the five central bays at ground and second floors which have two transoms.

A central brick porch has mouldings and dentils to its parapet and a moulded four-centred arch of two orders. The double doors each have eight nailed panels. Stone statues stand to right and left with two bosses above. A coat of arms appears above the porch. Four shafts with carved heads separate the windows.

Interior

Many features survive from each period of building. The Long Gallery occupying the first floor of the west wing is panelled throughout with linenfold panelling and has an original fireplace with central chimney stack and iron fireback. There are two peepholes. The Ballroom has a plastered and painted ceiling, panelled walls, pedimented door and marble fireplace. The Grand Salon features a painted and plastered ceiling, panelled walls and marble fireplace. The Library is panelled with Ionic pilasters, pedimented doors and a 17th-century marble fireplace. Two fine staircases survive. Many other panelled walls, doors and dados date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, but viewing is limited as most rooms are private apartments.