Old Sulehay Lodge And Attached Outbuilding And Barn

Old Sulehay Lodge and Attached Outbuilding and Barn

A hunting lodge and stables, now converted to a house with attached outbuilding and barn. The building has late 15th-century origins, commissioned for Sir Guy Wolston, with substantial early 17th-century work and a datestone of 1642. It was enlarged in 1851 by Browning and again after 1892. The structure is built of regular coursed and squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof.

The plan is now irregular L-shaped, comprising single storey with attic and two-storey sections. The main front faces north and features three gables stepping forward to the left. The two leftmost gables are late 19th-century additions with stone mullion windows and a two-storey canted bay window to the far left. The third gable dates from the early 17th century and has a 19th-century porch at ground floor level on the left. To the right is an early 17th-century round-head arch with jewelled keyblock, now blocked. The first floor contains a three-light stone mullion window with a similar single light window alongside.

A single-storey range with attic, dating from approximately 1642, is attached to the right of the main elevation. Originally the stables, it is now in part domestic use and part outbuilding. The ground floor has two irregularly spaced three-light stone mullion windows. Adjacent to this is a two-storey gatehouse, also dating from approximately 1642, featuring an ogee moulded segmental carriage arch (now blocked) set within a rectangular frame. Above this is a two-light stone mullion window. Both the gatehouse and the stables have ashlar gable parapets and ashlar chimney stacks at the ridge.

A 19th-century barn is attached to the right, with a central cart entrance flanked by pitch holes; these features have 20th-century doors and glazing respectively.

The rear elevation of the former stable range displays a three-bay arcade to the right, composed of segmental arches with continuous mouldings all contained within a rectangular frame. The arcade is now blocked with 20th-century doors and windows. To the left are casement windows and two Lincolnshire eaves dormers above, fitted with 19th-century style casement windows. A gable to the right is early 17th century with a two-light stone mullion window at first floor. A two-window range to the far right is probably mid 19th century with stone mullion windows. The gatehouse and barn to the far left echo the main front elevation, with a datestone of 1642 visible in the apex of the gatehouse gable.

Interior features include the gatehouse, which contains semi-circular arched openings in the return walls, each with jewelled keyblock and square surround. The arch in the west wall is now damaged and blocked. The first floor of the former stable range retains remains of two 17th-century fireplaces and roof structure comprising six collar trusses with clasped purlins. The kitchen to the right is early 17th century, originally probably unheated, with a high ceiling featuring a stop-chamfered spine beam. Blocked stone mullion windows remain visible in the east wall. The upper part of the staircase rising from this room is said to be original. The first floor room above contains a fireplace with four-centred arch-head and roof structure with tie beam and two raking struts.

Sulehay was an extra-parochial area within Rockingham Forest and passed from the Yarwell family to Sir Guy Wolston, who is credited with rebuilding the lodge. It subsequently remained part of the Apethorpe estate, and most of the surviving 17th-century range dates from 1642. The main house was demolished in 1718, after which the stables were converted into a dwelling. The building underwent considerable improvement and enlargement during the mid and late 19th century.