Blake Hall

TL 50 NW BOBBINGWORTH STONY LANE 1/29 Blake Hall 20/2/67 GV II*

House, C18, remodelled 1822 by George Basevi, altered late C19 with wings to N and S and third storey to central block. In 1944 the R.A.F. Station H.Q. moved into Blake Hall from North Weald aerodrome and gutted the South Wing for use as a flight operations centre for section E until the end of the war. Of stuccoed brick with hipped grey slate roofs. The 3 storeyed centre block breaks forward, with 2 storey ranges to right and left and an additional 2 storey block again breaking forward to far left. Moulded cornice to parapet throughout with balustraded parapet and breaking forward moulded pediment to centre block. 3:2:3:2:3 range of double hung small paned sash windows, except for ground floor right range which has 3 round head small paned sash windows with plain 2 order heads and band at spring level. Central band to N range. Bands below first and second floor cills to main block which has 2 pilaster strips to right and left and the central 3 bays break forward under pediment. There is a small saluting platform with a mounting block and steps to right of main range. 4 symmetrically placed stuccoed chimney stacks to main porch and two matching stacks to left range. Central porch with 4 Doric columns. Guttae, Triglyps and Metopes to frieze and moulded cornice to flat canopy. 6 panel door with moulded canopy and brackets. To the rear, the main block has semi-circular bays to right and left, 3 storey 9 window range of small paned sliding sashes, central 6 panel door with segmental light with glazing bars over, pilasters, frieze and flat canopy. Above this the first floor window has moulded frieze and head. Moulded cornice to blocked parapet. The south range breaks forward with chamfered corners and matches the front range. The west range has one bay set back and 3 bays break forward with a blocked parapet. The ground floor of this range with loggias to each face. Interior: the hall has a screen of 2 columns and pilasters of Tuscan order, moulded coving, architraves, wainscoting, and dado panelling. A very fine late C17 staircase from Schomberg House, Pall Mall was added early C20. Two beautiful Neo-Greek bookcases to the rear wall, all that remain of the War Time gutting of the Library. There are fine mouldings to architraves, wainscots and panelling throughout and the house, home of the Capel-Cure family since 1789 stands in Parkland surrounded by a fine garden.

Listing NGR: TL5387905116