Wolterton Hall

Wolterton Hall

A country house built circa 1726–1740 by Thomas Ripley for Horatio Walpole, with significant additions made circa 1827–1832 by G.S. Repton for the third Earl of Orford. The designer of the later wing was Philip Hardwick.

The main structure is constructed of brick and stone with slate roofs and adopts a rectangular plan with later additions. The north entrance front rises three storeys and comprises seven bays. The centre three bays project forward beneath a stone pediment bearing a coat of arms in the tympanum. Sash windows with glazing bars feature throughout. The ground floor is distinguished by banded stone rustication with keystones to flat arches. A central door is flanked by pilasters and topped by a stone platband. The original entrance formerly occupied the first floor; stairs were removed in the early 19th century. The original entrance door, now converted to a window, is accompanied by attached Tuscan columns on either side and plain stone cornice and pediment work. Shouldered and eared architraves with plain cornices frame the sashes. A sill band runs across this storey. Second floor sashes contain six lights and have shouldered and eared architraves. A plain stone cornice runs above. Two stone stacks rise from this front.

To the left a four-bay, two-storey range dating from 1827–1832 terminates in a single-bay, three-storey pavilion. Sash windows with glazing bars are present throughout. The ground floor is dressed stone with keystones to window openings and a stone platband. First floor windows have shouldered and eared architraves. The pavilion window features a balustraded balcony and surround topped by a segmental pediment. A stone sill band and stone platband mark the pavilion base. The second floor six-light sash has eared and shouldered architrave with keystone, above which sits a plain cornice and stone pediment.

The east front displays three bays over three storeys, though it is partly obscured by a later wing. A 20th-century open-fronted lean-to spans the face. Brick banded rustication appears at ground floor level with stone platband above. The first floor window features eared and shouldered architrave with keystone and stone sill band. Second floor windows are six-light sashes with eared and shouldered architraves. A plain cornice runs across. A balustraded parapet extends from the south-east corner for approximately half the width of the house, probably added circa 1830. Two stone stacks rise from this elevation.

The south, garden front mirrors the north front in composition. An arcade with banded rustication and balustrade was added circa 1830. A flight of stone steps with stone balusters on either side leads up. First floor sashes were altered to descend to the level of the terrace above the arcade. A brick pediment bearing a coat of arms surmounts the projecting centre three bays. A balustraded parapet caps this front. Two stone stacks rise from it.

The west front resembles the east elevation but features a glazed central door at ground floor level with side windows all having stone reveals. Above this sits a Venetian window flanked by Ionic attached columns. A balustraded parapet crowns the front, with two stone stacks rising from it.

The interior contains a central domed stairwell rising the full height of the house. A stone cantilevered staircase with console supports is fitted with a wrought iron balustrade displaying a lyre pattern and a ramped mahogany handrail with banding. The marble hall, formerly the entrance hall, features a chimney piece flanked by consoles, an overmantle with broken pediment, and carved overdoors. The former front doorway is topped by a pediment on brackets. The ceiling is ribbed. Other state rooms throughout the house feature carved overdoors and dentil cornices. Some chimney pieces date to circa 1735 and are attributed to Richard Fisher of Ripon. Doors of American walnut were given by Queen Caroline to the first Lord Walpole.