Ormesby Old Hall

TG 51 SW ORMESBY ST. MARGARET YARMOUTH ROAD WITH SCRATBY (north side)

5/30 Ormesby Old Hall (formerly 20.2.52 listed as Ormesby Hall)

G.V. II*

House. Mid C17 but re-fronted and remodelled 1735. Brick with slate roofs. Double pile plan. South front in header bond only, a great rarity. 2 storeys in 7 bays, the central 3 bays broken forward under pediment. Central panelled door in panelled reveals. Timber doorcase of Tuscan columns on high pedestals supporting Doric entablature. Over door a high relief carving of a bearded head and fruit and foliage trails. Sash windows with glazing bars beneath gauged skewback arches. Platband at first floor. Rusticated quoins close elevation at east and west. Moulded brick eaves cornice below high stone- capped parapet. Within parapet 2 groups of 10 balusters and on parapet stand 5 stone urns symmetrically disposed. Gabled roof with 2 flat-topped dormers. 4 symmetrical ridge stacks. North elevation betrays C17 origins. 2 storeys and dormer attic in 8 bays. Gibbsian doorway in third bay from right containing original pegged and panelled door. Above door is 6-vaned fanlight. Broken segmental pediment stands on keystones and provides a frame for an urn. Fenestration of sash windows in flush frames all with glazing bars and segmental gauged skewback arches. Deep brick ovolo and rolled platband at first floor, of C17. Eaves platband below parapet. Gabled roof with 3 flat- topped dormers. Western gable end stack and ridge stack left of centre. Against western gables is a single storey brick and slate library by R.W. Edis of 1900 : 4 sashes to west and a Gibbsian French window to north; hipped roof. Interior. Entrance hall is square with panelled doors within shouldered architraves leading left and right into principal rooms. Marble fireplace has acanthus leaf ovolo freize augmented by egg and dart motifs. Ahead a round arch leads into rear range and staircase. Moulded plaster cornice with dentilation, egg and dart and guilloche patterning. Room to west with large framed panelling. Plaster cornice with billet and egg and dart mouldings. Door architraves shouldered as before. C19 stick baluster staircase with C18 panelled dado. Ramped and wreathed handrail. Stairwell ceiling is plastered. Rear west room has marble fireplace below a frieze carrying high relief timber vegetative swag reputedly by Gibbons but more like Ivory. Restrained shouldered overmantel with egg and dart and guilloche mouldings. To sides and top Rococo arabesques gaily romp. Modillion cornice to room supported by egg and dart frieze. Library by Edis (who lived here) is designed round set of glazed Gothick bookcases. Tentative plaster ceiling. First floor rooms continue with similar style : large frame panelling, shouldered and decorated doorways, moulded cornices.

Listing NGR: TG5003814501