Kirkby Hall

SD 28 45W, 19/95

KIRKBY IRELETH, Kirkby Hall (A595 (east side),

31.08.88

I

Farmhouse and outbuilding. East wing, c1450, hall and west wing c1530. Roughcast stone rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings; slate roof. South elevation of two storeys and four bays. Hipped roof to west end, replaced 1st bay gable. 4th bay, the east wing, canted back slightly. 3-light double- chamfered-mullioned windows with label moulds, but 1st bay of ground floor has 4-light window and 2nd bay has 4-light bay window under lean-to roof. Entrance to 3rd bay has centred head and continuous moulding. Cross-axial stack and gable-end stack, both with rounded shafts. Outbuildinq attached to south-west angle by wall with bee boles is partly ruinous with remains of 2 cruck trusses. West elevation has large projecting lateral stack with rounded shaft. Ground floor casement window and blocked 1st floor window. North elevation has large projecting lateral stack with set offs and rounded shaft; east wing has gable-end stack with paired rounded shafts; smaller gabled wing to west. A few casement windows. Last elevation has some casement windows and entrance.

INTERIOR: Entrance passage has timber partition wall to hall and leads to spiral stair with oak baulks. Hall has large fireplace with 3-centred arch. North-west angle has diagonal passage to dairy, which has slate shelving. Last wing has fireplace with 3-centred arch and small closet to angle. 1st floor of east wing described as having fireplace with C16 plaster overmantel (CWAAS vol.XIII O.S.). Chapel in west wing, accessible only from trap door in dairy passage, has open kingpost roof with arch braces and struts. Wall paintings in red ochre and black: Panels with stylised trees, animals, birds, etc. with texts above: Lord's prayer, Creed, Ten Commandments and Galations 5, 16-21 (Great Bible of 1541); a rare survival; blocked fireplace with 4-centred head; mural closet probably remains of spiral stair from parlour. Hall has king post trusses similar to those in chapel; east wing has queen post trusses. An important example of an early manor house.

Listing NGR: SD2356983545