Burton Latimer Hall And Wall Attached To South

Burton Latimer Hall is a mansion of probably medieval origin, substantially remodelled and enlarged in the early 17th century, with a remodelled west front dating from the mid-18th century and a south wing added in 1872–1873. The building is constructed of coursed limestone rubble with a small amount of ironstone, except for the west front which is ashlar. The roof is covered in Collyweston stone slate with a moulded stone ridge, lateral and end chimney stacks, plinth, coved cornice, and coped gables on kneelers.

The main structure comprises a main block and two cross-wings, with an additional wing to the south. The north front presents a three-window range across the main block with a panelled door set to the right of centre. The door is fitted with panelled reveals in an 18th-century moulded architrave featuring a pulvinated frieze and pediment. The windows are two-light examples with ovolo-moulded stone mullions and transoms, topped with cornices. Those on the first floor have gabled half-dormers and are fitted with gudgeon-hung casements containing leaded panes, some of which are probably original. The north gable end of the east wing contains a door with moulded stone surround and three two-light ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows, two of which also have transoms. The north gable end of the west wing features a chimney stack and parapet, probably raised during the 18th-century remodelling to conform with the west front.

The east side displays three projecting gables, a lateral chimney stack, and mullioned windows of various dates. A large stair window of four lights by three lights, featuring a king mullion, sits beneath the central gable. The south front of the main block has a door in an 18th-century moulded stone surround with cornice. To the left is a two-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion and transom window with cornice, adjacent to a similar three-light window with a half-dormer above. To the right is a four-light window with king mullion on the ground floor, repeated as a half-dormer above. A small ridge chimney stack marks the junction of the main block and west wing. Between the main block and east wing stands a massive four-flue chimney stack, its south face inscribed with a sundial bearing the text "sic transit glonia mundi". Another sundial appears on the west side of the east wing, which also contains four-light windows matching those of the main block at both ground and first floor levels.

The south face of the east wing features a four-light mullion and transom window at ground floor level, distinguished by its panelled surround rather than the ovolo-moulding seen elsewhere. Above this sits an unusual Venetian window within a square surround featuring a keystone and cornice. The central light of this Venetian window originally extended the full height and opened onto a balcony. The east face of the west wing includes a two-light stair window with two transoms.

The west front is constructed of ashlar with an original plinth, rusticated quoins, and a raised band between floors. It features a coved cornice and blocking course. This front comprises two storeys across five bays. The central entrance is a 18th-century six-panel part-glazed door set within a moulded stone architrave with rusticated frieze and pediment, matching that on the north front. The windows are six-over-six sash windows in raised stone surrounds with roll-mouldings and keystones. The 19th-century south wing employs architectural details derived from the original building.

The interior retains evidence of the original hall and through-passage plan, with three service doorways. One survives as a corridor entrance; the other two exist as recesses in the present kitchen. The hall, now subdivided, contains a colossal moulded stone fireplace and a panelled door in an eared architrave that appear disproportionately large in the reduced space. Similar doors and doorcases appear in the staircase hall. A very fine early 17th-century dog-leg staircase in the east wing features a closed string, flattish handrail, square newels with elaborate ball finials and hood-shaped drop finials, and bastard Ionic balusters. The first floor landing displays two doorcases with eared architraves, one of which incorporates Ionic pilasters. The east wing contains several good 17th-century moulded stone chimney pieces and one from the late 18th century in Adam style, located in the first floor south room. The west wing has a ground floor north room with panelling and an elaborate, probably mid-18th-century chimney piece. A similar but plainer chimney piece (now parted) occupies the room above.

The roof structure over the main block employs four-bow raised cruck construction with collar and purlins but no ridge piece. The crucks and rafters are halved and pegged at the ridge, bearing carpenter's marks. The central truss has a straight collar; the other two collars are steeply cambered and have been cut down and re-used. Both originally bore at least seven notches with peg holes on the lower edge of one side (the eastern collar now retains only six, having been cut at the right; the western collar retains seven, being cut at both ends) and two larger notches on the upper edge of the same side, whilst the lower edge of the opposite side is chamfered. The chamfered sides of both are notably dark, suggesting possible smoke-blackening. Two longitudinal members, now helping to carry the ceiling joists, are also re-used and contain mortices passing entirely through them at intervals. The end walls of the main block originally appeared to extend completely to the ridge; the eastern end remains almost intact, whilst the western has been reduced.

The wall to the south, of various probably 18th and 19th-century construction, is built of limestone with some ironstone and incorporates two much-weathered square gatepiers with recessed rectangular panels.