Kirby Hall, Attached Walls And Archways

KIRBY HALL, ATTACHED WALLS AND ARCHWAYS

Country house built 1570–75, probably by master mason Thomas Thorpe for Sir Humphrey Stafford, and completed 1576–83 for Sir Christopher Hatton I. The house was probably modified by Henry Thorpe in the early 17th century for Sir Christopher Hatton II, and was altered in 1638–40 after the style of Inigo Jones, probably by Nicholas Stone, for Sir Christopher Hatton III.

The house is constructed of squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings and has a slate roof. It is arranged on a courtyard plan with two storeys and an attic.

The entrance front dates from 1638–40 and comprises a 13-window range with a central 3-bay projection that breaks forward as a 3-storey porch. The centre bay of the porch is taken up as an attic storey. The central arched opening is flanked by niches, and a similar opening at first-floor level has a keyblock and panelled pilasters, giving access to a balcony with plain iron balustrade. The flanking window openings have moulded architraves and cornice with pulvinated frieze above. Three second-floor windows have plain stone surrounds, and the attic parapet contains two similar openings with a circular stone dial between them. The centre 3 bays of each range flanking the porch break forward slightly. All ground-floor windows have segmental arch heads and moulded stone eared architraves, some with leaded casements and iron grilles. First-floor window openings are similar with square heads having moulded cornice and pulvinated frieze. The end bays have arch-head door openings at first-floor level with balconies similar to those of the porch. Pediments above have ball finials and supporting volutes with open roundels. Similar pedimented treatment remains to the centre of each range flanking the porch. The ground and first floors of the porch are rusticated ashlar, and the second floor has similar quoins. Moulded frieze and cornice run between floors and below the parapet. The parapets to the porch and flanking ranges have turned balusters. The end bays have ashlar stacks with rusticated bases and shafted flues. Attached to the ends of the entrance front are walls forming a forecourt to the house. These contain three elaborate gateways: the central gateway has frosted rustication, a broken pediment with cartouche, niches at the sides, and sections of balustrading either side beyond. The side gateways have coping over the overthrow and side niches, and merlons on top.

The garden front to the right of the entrance front dates to the 1570s on the left and the 1580s on the right. It forms an irregular 18-window range comprising mainly 4-, 6- and 8-light stone mullion and transom windows, some with leaded lights, others blocked. One bay at the far left has a similar first-floor balcony to that of the porch, and the corresponding end bays of the entrance front. Bays 2 to 6 from the left are grouped in pairs with lateral stacks between. Gables between the stacks have scrolls, volutes and ball finials. Bays 7 and 8 from the left are late 17th-century work and break forward to house the great staircase. Four bays from the right also break forward, with a 5-window range between each projection forming a symmetrical elevation. Varying-sized gables over the bays to the right of the garden front have scrolls, volutes and obelisks distinctive of the work completed for Sir Christopher Hatton I on this elevation. The garden front terminates at the far left with a pair of large late 16th-century stone bow windows of 30-lights to the ground floor and 20-lights to the first floor. Six-light attic windows with stepped heads are set in curved gables. The range to the right is now blank, forming the south elevation of the Great Hall. A lateral stack and door opening are on the axis of the courtyard, with a flight of steps. A brick staircase projection to the right of the Great Hall dates from 1630–40 and gave access to chambers formed over domestic offices, now gone.

The elevation to the left of the main front comprises the remains of an irregular 9-window range. The bay at the far right has a similar first-floor door opening with balcony to that of the porch and the corresponding end bays of the main front.

The rear of the entrance front, which forms one courtyard elevation, bears a datestone of 1640 referring to the remodelling works. This elevation has a 9-window range with an open loggia to the ground floor. The centre of the first floor has an arch-head door opening giving access to a balcony, with a broken pediment above featuring a bust by Nicholas Stone. First-floor window openings have moulded and eared architraves with alternate triangular and segmental pediments over. Giant Ionic reeded and decorated pilasters divide the bays. The centre 3 bays extend to the second floor with 2 windows and a central dial. Supporting scrolls and a balustered parapet are set above.

The opposite courtyard elevation is the Great Hall and Buttery range. A central 2-storey porch dated 1572 and 1638 has an arch-head opening flanked by Ionic pilasters. The first-floor opening with balcony is similar to the opposite elevation and is flanked by Corinthian columns and brackets supporting a decorated frieze and cornice. A curved gable above is decorated with seven Corinthian colonettes and strapwork. Three and a half bays flanking the porch have 16- and 20-light stone mullion and transom windows with giant pilasters between. Six-window ranges to the left and right sides of the courtyard have stone mullion windows with giant pilasters between alternate bays, moulded cornice and decorated frieze. Gable abutments in the hall range are similar to the hall porch.

Interior features include a Great Hall with a barrel-vaulted ceiling featuring elaborately carved wind braces and ribs, and a fragment of a similar ceiling in the long gallery in the west range. A 17th-century panelled gallery is located in the Great Hall. The porch contains two 17th-century plaster ceilings. Two staircases have moulded stone handrails. Various moulded stone fireplace surrounds are found throughout the house.

Kirby Hall passed from the Hattons to the Finch Hattons and ceased to be maintained as a residence from the early 19th century onwards. The property is owned by the Winchelsea estate and is in the guardianship of Historic England. Kirby Hall is scheduled as an ancient monument. The garden is included in the Historic England County Register of Gardens at Grade II*.