Moresby Hall

Moresby Hall is a large house with an overall courtyard plan, developed over three main building phases.

The earliest phase dates to the late medieval period, when the house was built for the Moresby family, who held the estate until their male line died out in 1499. This phase possibly incorporated a tower to the northwest with a hall range attached to the east, though insufficient evidence survives to fully reconstruct the medieval plan.

The second phase occurred in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, following the purchase of the estate by the Fletcher family in 1576. This involved radical remodelling of the older house, including refenestration and re-roofing. The principal dating features are double-chamfered windows under hood moulds. By this phase, the house had definitely assumed a courtyard plan.

The third phase dates to the late 17th century, around 1670-90, when the south range was remodelled for the Fletcher family, possibly to designs by William Thackery or Edward Addison. This work involved heightening and re-fronting the south range with rusticated ashlar. Further modifications were made in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The materials are almost entirely concealed by rendering, but comprise mainly random rubble or snecked ashlar sandstone, with graduated slate gable-end roofs.

The south elevation displays the most sophisticated external treatment from the third phase. It presents a symmetrical seven-bay front of two-and-a-half storeys, rusticated throughout. A cornice carries a blocking course with pilasters. The central door is studded and set in a round-headed rusticated surround, surmounted by a segmental pediment bearing the Fletcher coat of arms. The pediment is supported by pilasters crossed by bands, tied as if by lozenge-shaped nails—an unusual motif also found at Catterlen Hall, Newton Reigny, Cumbria. All windows are two-light with diamond leaded panes and stone mullions and architraves. Ground-floor windows have single transoms, while first-floor windows (to the piano nobile) have two transoms and alternating triangular and segmental pediments, with a more ornate surround and brackets to the central window, which stands above the door pediment.

The east elevation displays work from the second and third phases. The gable ends of the north and south ranges flank the kitchen range, which has a much lower roof line. Dominating this elevation is a massive random rubble external kitchen stack with four pairs of set-offs and a later small brick shaft. At the south range east end, a symmetrical arrangement of blocked windows (first, second, and attic storeys) matches those of the south front in size but lack pediments. Straddling the line between the front and kitchen ranges is a small two-light first-floor window with double-chamfered surround and diamond leading, establishing that the 16th and 17th-century house was already of courtyard plan. Other windows of various dates are scattered across the elevation, including 19th-century two-pane sashes and an 18th-century twelve-pane metal casement with lift-off hinges. The east end of the north range features a corbelled projecting garderobe serving the upper storey, with its roof flush with the north slope of the main roof. A blocked four-light first-floor window with stone mullions and single transom under a hood mould marks second-phase work. A ground-floor sash window is also present. Attached outbuildings of no special interest adjoin this elevation.

The north elevation encompasses work from the first and second phases, with 19th-century refenestration. A three-window range with two-pane sashes with plain surrounds may mark the site of the original hall range, much modified in the 16th and 17th centuries. A doorway to the right gives into a through passage, with a large ridge stack beyond (brick shaft above, stone below). The right-hand element of this elevation now forms the gable end of the west range and incorporates a garage entrance. It is highly likely that the northwest corner incorporates a medieval pele tower, evidenced by a surviving newel in the southeast angle.

The west elevation encompasses all three phases. The former pele and west range share the same roof with a ridge stack. Fenestration is irregular. Second-phase work is marked by a small ground-floor window with chamfered surround and modern two-light casement, and a first-floor hood mould originally for a three-light window but now with a 19th-century four-pane sash. Other 19th-century sash windows are present. Two third-phase windows, both two-light with diamond leading, appear on this elevation, one to the first floor with transom, the other lighting the south range attic. Attached outbuildings and external boiler stacks of no interest adjoin this side.

The courtyard elevations contain considerable evidence of second-phase building work on all ranges except the south, where later construction (including rear stacks and a stair turret from the third phase) obscures earlier features. Much work probably remains concealed beneath rendering. The south face of the north range displays a doorway to the cross-passage with chamfered jambs and depressed arch (19th-century planked door), connected to two three-light double-chamfered windows by a continuous string course forming window hood moulds. Most original lights are blocked, though mullions may remain hidden beneath render. The first floor contains two large four-light windows with transoms and continuous string course, mostly blocked except for one 20th-century insertion. A small window to the upper half-storey and an unadorned slit window lighting the pele tower newel (probably medieval) also survive on these elevations.

The interior retains relatively little early work visible or surviving, except in the south range, though much likely remains concealed. Of the medieval work, only the newel of the pele is visible, rising from ground to attic, with evidence suggesting a second newel to the inner southeast angle. The pele was re-roofed along with the west range in the second phase, showing two visible bays with tie beam, collar, staggered purlins, and pegged joinery. A blocked 16th and 17th-century window exists in the attic north wall. The great kitchen fireplace in the east range was apparently gutted around 1855.

The finest internal features are found in the principal south range. At ground floor, each of three rooms contains a stone fireplace with bolection-moulded surround and intersecting ceiling beams (plastered over in the right-hand room, otherwise roughly chamfered or plain). Internal panelled shutters are fitted to windows. A good stair with open well, moulded rail, panelled newels, and inverted dumb bell balusters occupies a central rear turret, appearing appropriate to the late 17th century. The principal rooms on the first floor display later, largely 18th-century detailing, with bolection-moulded fireplaces, end panelled cupboards occupying former window positions, and the three main rooms connected by doorways with moulded shouldered architraves.