Johnby Hall

Johnby Hall is a fortified house that likely dates back to the late 14th century, with extensions and alterations from the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, as well as changes made in the late 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. The building features thick pink sandstone rubble walls set on a chamfered plinth, topped by a hipped roof made of graduated greenslate and adorned with banded sandstone ashlar chimney stacks.

The structure includes a 3-storey rectangular tower from the 14th century, which has been joined by a smaller 3-storey rectangular tower from the 15th century via a short passageway. A unifying refacing from the 16th century and a 3-storey angle stair turret create a 3-storey, 4-bay facade. To the left, there is a right-angled 2-storey, 4-bay kitchen wing that forms an overall L-shape with the main building.

A prominent feature of the facade is the full-height stair turret on the right, which has a stone door architrave under a shaped hood on its left return wall. This hood is carried up and around a large panel inscribed with the names WILLIAM MUSGRAVE and ISABEL MATENDALE, dated 1583, along with further English lettering detailing the family descent. The upper-floor front has 2- and 3-light windows with hoodmoulds. The facade also includes an off-centre door in a 19th-century surround, which replaced the original doorway from 1747 that is now a window. Various 2- and 3-light windows are present on three levels, some of which are mullioned and transomed, including one with five lights.

The return walls and rear of the building have irregular small medieval openings, some of which are blocked, along with various 2- and 3-light windows, some framed in 19th-century surrounds. The kitchen wing features a central Tudor-arched doorway beneath a terracotta panel depicting a horseman, along with 2- and 4-light chamfered stone-mullioned windows and a left pent extension. The connection to the main house includes a Tudor-arched doorway accessed by stone steps, with a lintel inscribed WM CM 1637, representing William Musgrave and his wife Catherine.

Inside, the main house retains original features such as vaulted basements, newel staircases, and stone arched fireplaces.