Hasfield Court

Hasfield Court is a country house with a complex building history spanning from the late 17th century to the late 19th century. The main body is constructed of ashlar limestone facing an earlier brick and stone building, with a slate roof and ashlar stacks, some rendered.

The house was built in the late 17th century by John Parker and underwent minor alterations between the late 18th and mid-19th centuries. In 1863-65, it was significantly extended and refaced by William Baker and Rev. Ralph Bourne Baker, with the architect probably being Henry Wood of Hanley. Further substantial additions were made in 1885 by an architect named Waller, including a music room, conservatory, and an extension onto the east side containing a billiards room. Part of the 1885 extensions were demolished in the 20th century, resulting in minor rebuilding of the north-west corner of the main body.

The main body has a square plan with a projecting porch on the south front. The symmetrical entrance elevation features two storeys and an attic with seven dormers having Dutch-style shaped gables and urn finials; the central gable is larger than its flanking counterparts. Canted two-storey bay windows project at the far right and far left. Sash windows have moulded basket-headed surrounds, with a double string course between ground and first-floor windows. A modillion cornice sits below a balustraded parapet. The central stone porch features round-headed arches on three sides, with two engaged banded columns at each corner and a balustraded parapet topped with paired urn finials. A part-glazed 19th-century door sits within the porch. The music room occupies the left side, lit by large cross windows in moulded basket-headed surrounds. The projecting conservatory is lit by large round-headed windows with radiating glazing bars around a central plate-glass window, with circular lights in the spandrels and a glazed round-headed door in a shouldered surround at the south-east corner.

The west front features a Tudor-arched door surround (now blocked) with carved figures in its spandrels, and a three-light window with carved spandrels to the left, probably added between 1847 and 1863 by Thomas Fulljames. Traces of a moulded string survive between ground and first-floor levels. The east front fenestration is similar to the entrance front but without bays or porch. The main roof is hipped with a former central flat roof drained via a shute down the centre of the house. Cast iron decoration adorns the music room roof, and the conservatory has a lantern roof.

The interior contains a 19th-century open-well staircase flanked by barley-twist supporting columns. The library features late Tudor panelling, reputedly brought from Holdfast Manor near Upton around 1885. Bookshelves are inserted within the panelling, which is broken by pilasters with strapwork decoration and Corinthian capitals. Single niches above each column interrupt a band decorated with carved twin-tailed mermaids. A pair of blind arches sits over the fireplace. Fragments of William Morris wallpaper are now obscured by books.

The former dining room contains 19th-century panelling and a 16th-century cornice with a biblical quotation and the initials R.P. and D.P. (Richard and Dorothy Pauncefoote, died 1559 and 1568, whose tomb is in the church sanctuary). These initials are linked by love knots. The quotation was extended when the room was enlarged in the 1860s by William Baker. Deep-chamfered tie beams with moulded stops are visible on the first floor.

A small ante room off the music room contains an 18th-century style fireplace with festoons and an urn at the centre of the frieze. The music room is decorated in the style of Robert Adam, with the ceiling and walls divided into panels with moulded margins, a central circular ceiling boss, and festoon decoration over oval mirrors within wall panels. The Adam-style fireplace has a round-headed mirror above with a triangular pediment. Fine stained glass in the windows features musical instruments at the centre of each pane.

The conservatory contains fine stained glass around the window margins depicting apple and rose trees. This naturalistic theme is continued in similar stained glass windows in the 1885 extension. Deep-chamfered beams with moulded stops are visible on the first floor.

Historically, the house was owned by the Pauncefoote family from around 1200 to 1598. The medieval to early Tudor house was probably moated. Between 1847 and 1863, the house was owned by architect Thomas Fulljames, whose monument is in the churchyard. The house was subsequently sold to the Baker family and has remained in their ownership. Edward Elgar was a friend of William Baker and a frequent visitor to the house. Three of the Enigma Variations were based on the characters of members of the Baker family.