Holker Hall And Terrace Wall Approximately 70 Metres To Garden To South East

Holker Hall is a large house, partially converted into flats, dating back to the 1720s, with significant extensions and alterations in the 1780s by J. Carr. Further work followed in 1838-42 by G. Webster, including a re-facing and a low office wing, and in 1871-75 by Paley and Austin, who constructed the west wing. A terrace wall, approximately 70 metres long and running to the south-east, was built in the 19th century by T.W. Mawson.

The hall is constructed primarily of roughcast stone, appearing as dressed stone, with ashlar dressings and a slate roof; the west wing is of ashlar. The north-east facade is two storeys high and 12 bays wide, with bays 5 to 9 projecting forward. A first-floor sill band and modillioned cornice run along the top. The windows are sash windows with glazing bars arranged in an elongated hexagon pattern, and many have architraves. The seventh bay features a segmental-headed entrance with a six-panel door, side lights, and a fanlight, all with glazing bars. Bays to the left have been altered to accommodate 20th-century garage doors. Above the entrance is an elaborate top panel containing a gable and round recess, topped by an octagonal open cupola on a square base. An arched throughway exists in the end bay. Cross-axial and return lateral stacks are present. The south-east facade, of three bays, is similar. The bowed stair bay has a Venetian window, and a small projecting wing also features a Venetian window.

The north-west facade is single-storey, with an end gabled bay containing round-headed openings and cross-axial stacks; the gable end also has a bowed stair bay featuring segmental-pointed windows with sashes, mirroring the north-east facade, and a trefoil-headed window. The south-east facade, of three storeys and with an attic, has a parapet and two gables. Most windows are two-light, hollow-chamfered mullioned windows with labels; the second bay has a full-height canted bay window with an embattled parapet. An early 20th-century garden room at the end has three round arches, and late 20th-century wall paintings are present. The courtyard exhibits varied fenestration, including an entrance with a Doric porch.

The west wing is two storeys high with an attic, and possesses richly ornamental features including string courses, pierced parapets, coped gables, octagonal stacks, and mullioned and transomed windows. The south-east facade is of seven bays; the first two bays project under a gable with a stack and octagonal pinnacles. The third bay contains a re-entrant porch with pinnacles and a two-stage octagonal tower with an ogival cupola. Bays 4 to 6 have hipped dormers, and the seventh bay forms a four-stage square tower with a lead pyramidal roof. The north-west facade, of five bays, has a bowed angle bay, a two-storey canted bay window in the second bay with a gabled dormer, a canted oriel to the fourth bay, another dormer to the fifth bay. The south-west end is of three bays, featuring a bay window with a triangular projection and two gabled dormers.

The interior of the older part of the house contains two flying stairs, a room with 17th-century panelling originally from Raven Winder, and a fireplace from a farm at Conishead; two twisted wood columns originate from Germany. The west wing is richly decorated with ornate panelling, plaster ceilings, and alabaster fireplaces. Two round arches lead to an open well stair. Some fireplaces date to the 16th or 17th centuries, and one includes Wedgewood jasperware plaques. The west wing represents an outstanding work by a significant northern architectural firm.