Southwick Hall, Attached Walls And Stable Block

Southwick Hall, Attached Walls and Stable Block

A country house of major historical significance, originating in the 14th century for the Knyvet family. The present building incorporates a substantial 16th-century reconstruction of the hall and cross-wing for George Lynn, documented by datestones of 1571 and 1580. Later additions and alterations date from the late 18th century (undertaken for another George Lynn) and the 19th century (for the Capron family, possibly including work by E.F. Law). The building is constructed of squared coursed limestone and limestone ashlar with Collyweston slate roofs.

The plan evolved from an original hall and cross-wing arrangement to an irregular courtyard configuration with attached stables. The main structure rises to two storeys with attics and three storeys in places.

The entrance front to the south presents a complex facade mixing periods. A 14th-century south-west wing projects to the left, with a doorway featuring a 4-centred arch head inserted in 1909, and above it a 14th-century two-light window with renewed geometrical tracery. A projecting stair turret and adjoining bay of later 14th-century date rises three storeys, with a 16th-century round-head doorway at its base and simple single-light windows with stone surrounds. The turret and bay have plain ashlar copings with a shallow gabled roof behind. An octagonal medieval end stack displays cusped openings on each face, though its capping is missing. The right gable of the south-west wing contains a two-light square-head stone mullion window to the first floor within a shallow projecting bay with stone lean-to roof; the ground floor window is reset. A narrow one-bay range to the right features a gablet and links to the late 16th-century work.

The late 16th and early 17th-century range occupies the centre and right of this elevation on the site of the hall and cross-wing. A four-window range displays three and four-light stone mullion windows with transoms at ground level. The bay to the left contains the Dining Room and breaks forward with gables on two faces, both featuring similar fenestration across three levels. The bay to the right, containing the Justice Room, is set back. The centre bays house the Hall, crowned with twin gables. A square-head door stands to the right. The elevation features a double chamfered plinth, moulded string course between floors, ashlar gable parapets with kneelers and finials, and ashlar ridge and end stacks with moulded cornices. The datestones of 1571 (right) and 1580 (left) are prominently displayed. A bellcote sits above the right-hand kneeler of the hall range.

The elevation to the right of the entrance front was partly reconstructed with a first floor added in the late 19th century. An irregular five-window range displays the gable end of the Justice Room to the left and includes two and three-light stone mullion windows. A carriage arch to the far right has a segmental head with ashlar dressings. An ashlar stack rises to the apex of the left gable with a similar ridge stack.

The garden front to the left of the entrance front is an irregular elevation of mixed date, spanning the 14th century, late 18th century, and early 19th century. The 14th-century south-west wing to the far right displays a three-storey gable end containing a priest room, with the gable end of the Gothic Room behind. One-window range features 19th-century two-light Gothic windows on each floor. The return wall of the Gothic Room retains one 14th-century two-light window with geometrical tracery. A 19th-century bay to the left, originally a staircase now serving as a hallway, has a two-light stone mullion window with transom and a hipped lean-to roof with gablet at apex. An early 20th-century glazed lean-to projects to the left. The Dining Room range gable behind displays a circular window in its apex.

A late 18th-century central projecting wing features a canted wooden bay window with Gothick glazing bars to its gable end, with an arch-head window above flanked by smaller windows, all with Gothick glazing bars. The range to the left has one large first-floor tripartite sash window with Gothick glazing bars, its lower section opening onto the flat roof of a single-storey 19th-century range. The north range gable end to the far left contains a lunette in its apex.

The rear elevation of the north range displays a four-window range of early 19th-century leaded casements under flat stone arches to the right (two blind); an irregular two-window range of casements to the centre with an open through passageway to the courtyard at ground floor; and a 16th-century single-storey kitchen to the far left, now with a 20th-century garage door.

In the courtyard, the rear elevation of the entrance front features an early 14th-century gabled projection at centre with a circular stair turret to the right. Two two-light stone mullion windows show evidence of an arch-head window above in the gable. The stair turret contains one cross light, with an 18th-century upper section clad in vertical slate hanging and crowned with a conical roof. The gable behind the turret also displays vertical slate hanging.

The courtyard elevation of the north range shows a lunette to the left with a seven-light part-leaded casement above. Late 19th-century stables, now part of the dwelling, run parallel to the north range and are attached by a 19th-century wall to the western corners. 19th-century walls to the eastern corners support ashlar gatepiers. The stables rise two storeys across five bays with a gabled centre bay breaking forward. Flanking half dormers feature stone gablets over. Coach house doors flank the centre with stable doors at the far left and right. Ashlar gable parapets and an ashlar stack at the ridge complete the composition.

Interior

The entrance hall occupies the 14th-century undercroft of the Gothic Room in the south-west wing, featuring a vault with chamfered ribs, carved corbels, and central boss. A similar undercroft to the left displays chamfered ribs. A spiral stone staircase leads from this room to the Gothic Room above, which preserves a restored 14th-century fireplace with sloping hood and carved corbels. The east window contains an arched recess to the left and piscina to the right, suggesting use as an oratory. Partially visible moulded cross beams are visible. The north and south window tracery contains 14th-century stained glass displaying the arms of Montfort of Beaudesert and Bohun.

The Priest Room to the left features a blocked fireplace beneath the window and blocked doorway to the north wall, probably to a garderobe. The room above is similarly configured.

The inner staircase hall represents a probable 19th-century remodelling in 18th-century style, with turned balusters and panelling. The Breakfast Room to the left displays 18th-century fielded panelling, a half-domed cupboard to the left of the door, and a reeded marble fireplace. The Dining Room to the right of the staircase hall was the former cross-wing and retains an 18th-century dado rail and wooden fireplace surround with restrained Rococo decoration. The Hall to the right of the dining room carries 18th-century style decoration said to be 19th-century remodelling, featuring a large fireplace surround and pulvinated friezes over doors. The passage to the right of the hall follows the line of the original screens passage and contains an 18th-century arch over and 14th-century doorway at its north end.

The Justice Room to the right contains an 18th-century stone fireplace with carved surround. The 14th-century circular stair turret to the north of the main range features an 18th-century wooden spiral stair. The undercroft to the right has a chamfered rib vault and two shouldered doorways.

Two first-floor rooms and a lobby over the Dining Room feature fielded panelling, one with a fireplace having an eared surround. Two first-floor rooms above the Hall have plain barrel-vaulted ceilings. The Oak Room to the west preserves 17th-century panelling with decorated frieze and stone fireplace surround. The Wainscote Room to the east contains an 18th-century stone fireplace with eared surround. Attics over the Dining Room range also feature barrel vault ceilings.

The 16th-century kitchen in the north range displays a raised cruck roof structure; its open fireplace and arch-head doorway are now blocked. The room to the left of the kitchen contains a large open fireplace with bressumer and stop-chamfered spine beams. The room above has a fireplace with stone surround.