Skelsmergh Hall

Skelmergh Hall is a house, now divided into two residences and with an outbuilding, dating back to the 15th century, with significant additions in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and later extensions. The building is constructed of stone rubble, with some ashlar dressings, the east extension being roughcast, all with slate roofs. The tower, now used as an outbuilding, is three stories externally, although the second floor is missing internally. It has gables to both the east and west sides. The west face displays an entrance and partial window jambs to the first and second floors, with the remaining windows lost during rebuilding of part of the wall and gable. The south face features windows with chamfered reveals on both the first and second floors. A large 19th or 20th century open-fronted lean-to shed extends from the north face; a second-floor window has two lights set in chamfered reveals. The east face reveals steps leading to a first-floor entrance, which has a head, possibly originally a window, with traces of cusping and a label mould, and a small stair light to the left.

The west return of the south wing is two stories and two bays, featuring a dripcourse to the ground floor. It has double-chamfered-mullioned windows with transoms, labels, and leaded glazing; the ground floor windows have three lights, while the first floor windows have two and three lights. A 19th century lean-to porch features a gablet to the front, a small window, and an embattled lintel, reportedly taken from a fireplace originally dated 1629. A 20th century entrance has been added to the return. The south elevation exhibits the gable end of the south wing and a three-bay east wing, with a two-bay extension to the right. The first bay of the east wing has a three-light double-chamfered-mullioned window to the ground floor, with a label mould and leaded glazing, and a segmental relieving arch. Similar windows, without relieving arches, are present on the ground floor (three lights) and the first floor (four lights). Other bays contain casement windows; the third bay contains an inserted entrance. The building has a cross-axial stack and a gable-end stack.

The north elevation has a projecting first bay, with casements in the first two bays. The fourth bay projects under a gable, with a single-story gabled outshut to the third bay and a lean-to outshut to the fifth. A small casement window is on the ground floor of the fourth bay, above which are two stair windows of two lights; the lower one is double-chamfered with a label, while the upper one is single-chamfered with leaded glazing. The third bay has a three-light segmental-headed leaded window to the first floor, and a small-paned fixed glazing with an opening light to the second floor. An entrance to the third bay is within a lean-to porch.

Internally, the tower's ground floor is barrel-vaulted, with remains of a spiral stair to the southeast angle and a garderobe to the northwest angle. A remaining kingpost truss has a cambered tie beam, with curved principals on the underside, raking struts, and indications of a former walk behind the parapet. Chamfered beams are still visible, along with a spice cupboard. There is said to be panelling to the first floor, and six- and eight-panel doors are present. The window mullions are ovolo-moulded on the interior.