Greystones Stonelink The Hall

Large house designed in 1848 by J Cooke and erected between 1850 and 1853 for William Drew Lucas Shadwell, whose family made its fortune supplying bricks used to build Martello towers. The building comprises three linked blocks: The Hall (main living accommodation), Stonelink (an attached service wing in similar style, possibly a later 19th-century addition), and Greystones (a linked block formerly used for stabling).

Built in castellated Gothic style of sandstone with slate roof and clustered stone chimneystacks, the asymmetrical building rises to 2 or 3 storeys with irregular fenestration and crenellated parapet. At the south end stands a 3-storey tower with a 2-storey entrance hall fronted by a chapel above, featuring octagonal turrets and a large traceried window with four cinquefoil-headed lights to the first floor. A projecting porch with angled buttresses is set before this, with two carved stone shields above and a 4-centred arched doorcase with colonnettes, stone bosses and an elaborate wooden door. To the right, a large square 2-tier mullioned window of 3 lights breaks through 2 floors, with a section of walling incorporating a drinking fountain and stepped pedestrian entrance. To the left extends a 2-storey range with a mullioned staircase window in tiers of 3 lights, followed by 3 mullioned sashes with hoodmoulding, a 3-storey portion with gabled dormer to the attic, curved semi-circular service entrances with 3 sashes, and a projecting porch with studded doors. The garden front is similar but features 3 projecting bays with all windows mullioned and transomed. Stonelink, attached to the north, is 2 storeys of stone with hipped slate roof and 5 mullioned and transomed casements. Greystones, attached by a wall with 4-centred arch to the north, formerly served as stables and coachhouse. Mainly 2 storeys with a central 3-storey tower containing a 4-centred carriage arch below and a crenellated parapet, it features 5 windows including a central traceried window, with mullioned or mullioned and transomed examples elsewhere. An L-wing contains a coach house with accommodation for 4 coaches.

The Hall retains remarkably complete original interiors. The entrance hall features a plaster ceiling with squares and bosses, oak panelling with an oak palton, and an elaborate stone 4-centred arch fireplace inscribed "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord". A large well staircase has fretted splat balusters and chamfered newel posts, with a staircase window of 2 tiers of 3 lights containing stained glass decoration. The drawing room has oak linenfold dado panelling, a marble 4-centred arched fireplace, and a plastered ceiling with strapwork decoration. The library contains a marble fireplace with floral wood carving and a strapwork plaster ceiling. The dining room has a stone 4-centred fireplace with the initials W F and L S. The former chapel features an arch-braced roof of 4 bays, an elaborate stained glass window (the two central panels of which have been modified and raised), and plaster decoration to the walls. A fine original stained glass window also survives in the bathroom.

The Lucas-Shadwells provided the building stone and £500 to construct the local parish church of St Andrew in 1845.