Lilford Hall

Lilford Hall is a grade I listed country house in Lilford cum Wigsthorpe, built in stages from the 17th century through the early 20th century. Datestones of 1635 and 1656 mark the original construction for William Elmes. The house was substantially altered in the 18th century by the architect Henry Flitcroft for Thomas Powys, who acquired the property in 1711. Further major alterations and extensions were carried out in the mid-19th century by W.G. Habershon of St. Neots, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by W. Dunn, R. Watson and others for the fourth and fifth Barons Lilford.

The house is constructed of limestone ashlar with a Collyweston slate roof and follows a U-shaped plan, with 2 storeys, attic and part basement. The main entrance front faces south-west and probably dates to 1635, though it was restored in the 19th century. This façade comprises 9 bays with central and flanking flush gables topped with Dutch style forms featuring convex and concave parapets with intermediate finials and open ring apex finials. A central single-storey porch has an arch-headed doorway with a moulded keyblock, flanked by Roman Doric columns. Above it is a balcony with a balustrade of arches incorporating central stalactites. The centre of the façade has a 7-window range of tall 2-light stone mullion windows with 2 by 2 transoms. Large flanking 2-storey bow windows contain 8 lights with stone mullions and transoms. Attic balconies have balustrades similar to the porch balcony, with Venetian-style tripartite stone mullion windows in the flanking gables having central arch-headed lights; the central attic window has a square-headed centre light. Raised bands link the ground and first floor window heads. A large central chimney stack of 13 flues linked by arches was added around 1711, incorporating the base of the original stack with central roof access.

The garden front to the right contains 7 bays with flanking bays having flush gables similar to the main entrance front. Bays to the left and right of centre have intermediate gables. The ground floor is largely occupied by tall sash windows with plain surrounds, though the window to the far left is now blind. The first floor features an arch-headed window with flanking niches at the far left, Venetian-style windows in the adjacent bay and at the bay to the right of centre and to the far right, and other 2-light stone mullion windows with transoms. The gables are linked by open balustrades similar to the main entrance front. Ashlar stacks sit at the ridge. The first floor of 2 bays to the far right is corbelled out, having been added together with the gable above in the early 20th century.

The elevation to the left of the main entrance front is an irregular 10-window range of 17th and 19th century stone mullion windows in similar style, 2 of which are Venetian-style. Three central gables are present. Two bays to the far left were raised in the early 20th century.

The rear elevation to the north-east has a central range of 7 bays with projecting wings. The central part-glazed door has a plain ashlar surround with a stepped keyblock and cornice above, accessed by a flight of steps. The ground and first floors feature 2-light stone mullion windows with transoms, with similar 2-light basement and later attic storey windows. A moulded stone cornice above the first-floor windows incorporates a central bracketed pediment, and a plain band runs between ground and first floor. The flanking wings have large lateral stacks immediately adjacent to the centre range; the right stack bears the date 1635 and the left stack the date 1656, both probably restored in the 19th century. The left-hand wing has datestones of 1858 and 1909, the latter referring to the addition of the upper storey. The upper storey of the right-hand wing is probably of the same date. Both wing ends have Dutch-style gables similar to the main entrance front and contain a 3-window range of 2-light stone mullion windows, some with transoms. The central range has a centre stack with 5 flues linked by arches.

Interior: The staircase was remodelled by Henry Flitcroft in the early to mid-18th century with some 19th century alterations. A spine corridor between the entrance hall and staircase features plain arches with moulded cornices. The staircase wraps around a large open well with 2 turned balusters per tread and scroll ends. Two Ionic columns support the first floor landing, with 2 Corinthian columns directly above. The walls are decorated with plaster panelling and swags. First floor doorcases are probably 19th century with circular plaster panels above.

The billiard room to the far left of the entrance contains 17th century panelling, probably reset with parts restored in the 19th century. Its fireplace features a 4-centred arch head flanked by wooden columns, with an overmantle containing 3 pairs of columns and a moulded cornice. The dining room to the right of the entrance has an 18th century fireplace with scroll brackets and swags, with late 19th and early 20th century panelling incorporating hotplates and probably masking earlier decoration. The library to the right of the garden front contains 19th century bookcases and a fireplace in 18th century style. The music room to the far right has early 20th century panelling in 17th century style. A 17th century archway to the rear left of the entrance provides access to domestic offices, with a 17th century fireplace featuring a 4-centred arch head in the adjacent room. A 19th century kitchen contains ranges.

First floor rooms to the centre and left of the main entrance front probably date from the same period as the staircase with 19th century alterations. The centre room has a fireplace overmantle with pediment and medallion, a dentilled cornice and circular ceiling panel, with a 19th century medallion above a door to the right. The room to the left contains some 18th century plasterwork. The ballroom to the right has extensive plasterwork decoration and mirrored panels, with a ceiling probably dating to the 18th century by Flitcroft and walls and ceiling enhanced with 19th century embellishments. First floor rooms to the garden front were remodelled in the early 20th century. A fireplace in the corridor probably has 17th century origins with an armorial device above. The first floor room in the west wing contains a 17th century fireplace, and the room over the kitchen retains some 18th century detailing. Remains of a 17th century long gallery, now subdivided, occupy the attic storey of the main entrance front, with access via the centre stack originally leading to a roof walk.