Ashwicke Hall

MARSHFIELD C.P. ASHWICKE PARK ST 77 SE

10/5 Ashwicke Hall G.V. II

Country house, now a school. 1857-60 by J.K. Colling for John Cavendish Orred of Liverpool; altered c.1900-1920. Coursed squared rubble with freestone dressings and quoins; slate roofs behind embattled parapets. Irregular and asymmetrical castellated Gothic style; double pile plan. 2 storeys. The principal feature is the 4 stage polygonal water tower to the left: embattled parapet and pseudo machicolations; projecting stair turret (truncated) to south- east, slender pointed windows; 2-light cross windows to stage 1 and 2, Y-heads to the tracery, angular 4-centred heads to the windows, drip moulds and carved head stops; single light pointed windows with cusped heads to stages 3 and 4. To the right of the tower is a 4 bay hall and staircase section: moulded string with gargoyles, foliage and fleurous; 2- and 3-light casement windows in chamfered and ovolo moulded mullions and surrounds and under square and segmental heads; to the left are 2 fine Perpendicular style, square headed 4-light windows with cusped heads to tracery, carved foliage in spandrels of upper window. Central 3 stage square tower with pseudo machicolations; C20 door under 4-centred head, overlight and pediment with ball finials, flanked by single casement windows (to be moved to the original position of the front door to the left). To the right is a 5 bay range of 2-light cross windows; large canted bay window on ground floor, 2-4-2-lights, embattled parapet. Further to the right is a late C19, 3 storey block with steeply pitched slate roof; 2 bays, 2- and 3-light casement and cross windows and projecting bay window on ground floor. Interior: much altered but former hall and library (now sub-divided) contain Jacobean-style plaster ceiling and fine carved stone fireplace with terms and marquetry overmantel of 4 Ionic columns, fluted frieze, paterae, 2 niches and rectangular central panel; C20 panelling and open 3 bay arcaded screen with Ionic columns and pilasters and Jacobean style plasterwork in spandrels, soffit and frieze; linenfold panel door. Staircase: open well, open string and twisted balusters; newel posts are chamfered and decorated with fleurons, foliage pendants and square finials. Panelled room at base of tower: plaster rib ceiling and fine foliage frieze; carved stone fireplace with decorative frieze. The 1960s chapel extension to the front is not included. See The Civil Engineer and Architects Journal, 1.XI.1861.

Listing NGR: ST7914771748