Melford Hall

Melford Hall is a fine red brick moated mansion built in 1559 by William Cordell, Solicitor General and Master of the Rolls. Queen Elizabeth I visited the house in 1578, and it was later sacked during the Commonwealth period when owned by the Countess of Rivers. Significant work was undertaken in the 18th century and 1813. The house is currently owned by Sir William Hyde-Parker and sits within a park of approximately 132 acres.

The house is constructed on three sides of a courtyard, originally open to the east, with a plan by John Thorpe held at the Soane Museum showing a previously enclosed courtyard. The west front is distinguished by three-storied outer blocks with towers at the inner corners, and a central three-storied block designed as a gatehouse, flanked by smaller towers. Originally recessed spaces between the towers were built out in 1813 with two-storied blocks. The towers have two-storied square bases which transition to octagonal towers above, topped with ogee-shaped domes featuring iron finials. The base of each dome incorporates semi-circular arches with ornamentation, and the upper stage of the towers is punctuated by eight square windows with leaded lights. Smaller square windows with stone surrounds and leaded lights are also present on the tower facades. The windows throughout the house are largely double-hung sash windows with glazing bars, set within stone surrounds.

The north and south wings, extending eastwards, mirror the west front with substantial towers of similar design. These towers are located on the inner faces of the wings and are not quite at the east end. The east front of the central block features a two-storied, stone-fronted porch with a central semi-circular arched doorway flanked by superimposed Doric and Ionic fluted pilasters, finished with a cornice and a semi-circular shell-ornamented centre piece. A pediment tops the 1st-storey window. The architectural style of this porch is notable for its classical features, which were unusual for the time of the building's original construction. The east front windows are predominantly stone mullioned and transomed windows with leaded lights, with the side wings featuring double-hung sashes with glazing bars, except at the east ends where four-light stone mullioned and transomed windows with leaded lights are present. Most windows have square label moulds. Tiled roofs are concealed behind parapets, and the east ends of the wings display stopped gables. Numerous chimney stacks rise from the roof, featuring octagonal grouped shafts.

Although the long gallery remains on the upper storey, little of the original Elizabethan interior survives. Valuable 18th and early 19th century features include a hall fireplace dating to around 1730, a monumental staircase built in 1813, and a library with apsidal ends, also dating to 1813. A Rococo fireplace is a highlight of the Drawing Room.