Aspall Hall

A manor house of late 16th and 17th century date, with early 18th and early 19th century alterations. The building comprises a long main range with a service wing to the south, forming an L-shaped plan, with a further shorter rear wing at the north end. The structure has a timber-framed core.

The two main wings display early 18th century red brick facades with dark headers, featuring a first floor brick band and wooden modillion eaves cornice. Early 19th century red brick has been used for most of the remainder of the building. The roof is hipped and slated, with two storeys and attics.

The front elevation is notably fine, with a 12-bay arrangement divided 4:3:5. A later shallow gable spans the three centre bays, incorporating an octagonal sundial. The cornice to either side of the gable is supported on consoles. Windows are sashes with glazing bars in flush frames, set within gauged brick arches. A former doorway in bay 6 features a console-bracketed pediment doorcase, now replaced by a window; below this are re-set moulded bricks from a 16th century chimney, and above is a Venetian window. The present early 19th century doorways occupy bays 3 and 9, each with a flat-roofed brick porch with modillion cornice and wooden trelliswork, containing 3-centre arched entrances with 19th century semi-glazed doors. Four flat-roofed dormers with sash windows are fitted with closely-spaced vertical glazing bars; the dormer sides are similarly glazed. A small timber bell turret sits on the roof ridge at the centre of the front gable. Three internal stacks with plain red brick shafts are visible, the heaviest positioned to the right.

The return facade to the right displays a 7-bay arrangement with segmental-headed sash windows, some showing closely-set vertical glazing bars only, and two first floor painted dummy windows. A flat-roofed brick porch contains an 18th century 8-panel door and rectangular overlight in a heavy frame, with three dormers matching the main front.

The brick gable end of the north wing, dating to around 1600 and built in English bond, features a pair of blocked circular windows at attic level and similar windows below, now partly obscured. Early 19th century work to the rear includes one doorway with fluted pilasters and entablature.

The interior contains notable features. The parlour at the left end preserves a fine late 16th century plaster ceiling with moulded cross-beams, their soffits enriched with intricate interlaced ornament. Fantail friezes appear on the walls and the sides of the cross-beams. The four divisions are subdivided by moulded ribs with pendant bosses displaying fleur-de-lys and rosette motifs. The hall ceiling has cross-beams with simply-moulded plaster encasing. One first floor fireplace displays a good oak mantelpiece of around 1600, intricately carved. The parlour contains a mid-18th century mantelpiece decorated in rococo style. Several other 18th century mantelpieces are present, together with good cast iron grates, two with tiled surrounds. A first floor room in the north wing retains some early 17th century panelling.

Early 19th century alterations involved widening the main range to provide a rear passage, introducing numerous 3-centre arches and panelled doors of that period. The roof was largely rebuilt in the early 19th century, although the trusses of around 1600 in the main range remain intact.

The Chevallier family have occupied the house since the early 18th century. Anne Chevallier, mother of Lord Kitchener, was married here in 1845. A circular moat surrounds the house.