Parndon Hall

TL 41 SW 1/8 5216

HAMSTEL ROAD Parndon Hall

II

Italianate red brick mansion with Portland stone dressings. Built in 1867 for the Rev Joseph Arkwright - grandson of the inventor. Two tall storeys, stone plinth, plat band string course with modillion brackets to flat eaves of hipped slate roof. Tall brick stacks with stone bands and bracketed cornice caps. Broad 3-bay entrance front with recessed centre. Tripartite stone pilastered windows, round headed lights to centre first floor with archivolts and keystones. Projecting stone entrance loggia, pilastered with glazed 3-bay arcade - central double door - balustraded parapet. Set back lower 2 storey service wing with plat band returned. The principal feature of the interior is the staircase hall rising through 2 storeys - massive oak staircase with turned balusters and finialed newels. The ceiling above the staircase has a brightly coloured decorative scheme on canvas, painted by Elizabeth Arkwright, it is said. On the flat of the ceiling are 4 panels with thinly draped and garlanded nudes representing the Four Seasons; around the deep cove runs a Bacchanalia of nude figures including a banquet scene. Below is a frieze of figures in C18 hunting costume, apparently incorporating portraits of members of the Arkwright family. On the ground floor, on the west side of the entrance hall is the former ballroom. This was lined with mirrors above the dado, one of which survives. The ceiling here has a more restrained painted decoration with a garland of closely painted flowers and a ring of putti around the central rose. On the ceiling of the window bay is a group of 3 nudes set against golden rays that appear rather unfinished by comparison with the staircase ceiling and may have been executed later possibly by another hand. Large ornate marble mantlepiece. Some of the oak doors in the house retain painted panels depicting children in various costumes. The interior decoration is the principal feature of the house. The entrance hall and one of the other ground floor rooms possibly have ceiling decoration concealed by over painting.

Listing NGR: TL4387610234