Kelmarsh Hall

KELMARSH HALL

Country house built circa 1727–32, designed by James Gibbs for William Hanbury. It was altered in 1956 by Sir Albert Richardson.

The house is constructed of red brick with ashlar dressings and is built to a double pile plan with linked pavilions. The main front presents seven windows across, with the centre three bays breaking forward and crowned by a rectangular pediment. A wide flight of steps leads up to central double doors beneath a fanlight with geometrical glazing bars. The doorcase is ashlar with attached fluted Corinthian columns supporting a plain entablature and segmental pediment above.

The tall sash windows at the first floor reduce in size at the second floor; all have glazing bars and moulded stone architraves. Those at ground floor feature eared architraves with alternating segmental and triangular pediments above. A continuous ashlar cornice runs across, with a brick parapet above the flanking bays. The centre sections of these parapets have been replaced with balustrading. The mansard roof contains dormers behind the parapet and brick stacks at the ridge.

The centre section is connected to the flanking pavilions by single-storey quadrants. Each quadrant has a central door with pediment above, flanked by sash windows with gauged brick heads. Some glazing bars to the right pavilion's ground floor are original 18th-century work. Ashlar pilasters separate each opening, topped with a ball finial, with a plain parapet and cornice below.

The pavilions are two storeys with an attic storey, each presenting a five-window range. The central entrances have moulded stone architraves and pediments above. The sash windows reduce at the first floor, all with glazing bars and gauged brick heads. Ashlar cornices run across with brick parapets above. The pavilions have gambrel roofs; the right pavilion has brick stacks at the ridge. The inside return elevations of the pavilions are treated similarly.

The garden facade follows a similar scheme, with a seven-window range and centre three bays breaking forward beneath an open rectangular pediment. Tall sash windows with glazing bars are at ground floor, reducing at the first floor with alternating segmental and triangular pediments above. The centre sash has a broad flight of stone steps, and an armorial crest is displayed in the centre of the pediment.

A single-storey, four-bay extension to the left is a 19th-century ballroom. Its end three bays break forward in a style matching the main house. The facade to the right was reconstructed in 1956 by Sir Albert Richardson following James Gibbs' original design, when Victorian extensions were removed. Stabling and walls are attached to the rear of the left pavilion.

Interior

The entrance hall occupies the centre of the main front and is double height. The rear wall has a three-bay arcade with three sash windows to the first-floor corridor above. Panelled plasterwork decorates the ceiling with restrained swags to the walls, reputedly by James Wyatt. Two black imitation marble bolection moulded fire surrounds are present.

To the right of the entrance is the Dining Room, which features a semi-circular recess at its end and an Adam-style ceiling decoration. To the left is the Chinese Room, with an 18th-century surround.

The Drawing Room occupies the centre of the west front and is double height, featuring plaster roundels in the inner section and a plaster frieze with cherubs, probably by James Wyatt. Moulded wood doorcases are throughout.

The Yellow Room and Library flank the Drawing Room to the right and left respectively. Both contain 18th-century-style fireplaces and bookcases, probably installed during early 20th-century remodelling.

The staircase between the Chinese Room and Library has a half landing and a fine 18th-century wrought-iron balustrade composed of lyre-shaped units. The walls and ceiling display fine plasterwork panel decoration.

The Ballroom to the right of the Yellow Room is 19th-century work, probably remodelled in the early 20th century.

Several first-floor rooms retain 18th-century marble fire surrounds.