Worlingham Hall

Worlingham Hall is a mansion dating back to the 18th century, with a possible 17th-century core, believed originally built by John Felton, who died in 1703. It was enlarged and remodelled around 1800 by Francis Sandys for Robert Sparrow. The building is constructed of brick and stucco with a slated roof.

The main entrance front has seven bays, arranged as a 2:3:2 composition, with a wider entrance bay. Flanking the central three bays are giant Roman Doric pilasters that support a reeded frieze extending across the centre. A moulded wooden mutule eaves cornice runs along the top, surmounted by a flat parapet which is raised and panelled above the central bays. The windows are sash windows with glazing bars set in flush frames, with a tripartite window in the centre; the side lights are detached. A curved open entrance porch of stone, in the Roman Doric order, shelters a six-panel door.

The right return front features nine bays in a 2:5:2 arrangement, with the five centre bays projecting forward and the central three forming a curved ground floor bay. To the left of the main block is a single-storey, eleven-bay orangery with large, small-paned casement windows and matching doors, five of the bays being divided by engaged wooden columns with flanking antae and formerly having pediments. The orangery connects to the former picture gallery, which has been renovated and is now used as a squash court. A colonnade, open to the front, extends to the right of the house, and appears to have originally led to a small domed summerhouse.

The interior remains largely unaltered. A segmental-vaulted entrance hall leads to a fine, octagonal staircase hall with an Imperial stone staircase, delicate wrought-iron balustrading and a mahogany handrail. A pilastered and pedimented doorcase is positioned at the top of the first flight of stairs. The octagon at first-floor level features a band of key fret, four opposed open arches, and plaster roundels depicting classical subjects. The space is covered by a lozenge-coffered vault with a glazed lantern. A pilastered dining room showcases an oval-panelled ceiling, and the saloon similarly has an enriched ceiling. The library has an unusual design, with bowed sides in its central section; the ends are divided by paired columns and antae, and feature panelled segmental ceilings. One bedroom possesses a frieze enriched with bucrania, carried across a screen at one end. The house retains some good fireplaces, two of which have painted decoration.