Croft Hall

Croft Hall is a manor house, likely originating in the 15th century and substantially rebuilt in the late 16th century. It was later classicized in the early 18th century and altered around 1845. Constructed initially for Sir Richard Clervaux, the 16th-century work was commissioned by Christopher Chaytor, the early 18th-century alterations by William Chaytor, and the 19th-century additions probably by Ignatius Bonomi. The building is constructed of roughcast over red sandstone rubble with painted ashlar dressings, and has a 20th-century clay pantile roof.

Originally U-shaped, it is now L-shaped following the loss of a rear wing and subsequent additions to the rear and rear left, which are of less significance. The main range comprises three storeys and four bays. Features include a chamfered plinth, chamfered rusticated quoins, and a central door consisting of eight panels above an overlight with decorative glazing bars within a keyed surround. The sash windows have glazing bars and crown glass, set within keyed surrounds; the second-floor windows are notably smaller, with six panes. A coped parapet masks a hipped roof, with a dormer window. A small brick stack is located at the left end, and a larger, older stack between the first and second bays is partially demolished.

The rear wing has one bay, featuring a tripartite window on the ground and first floors and a six-pane sash on the second floor, all within keyed surrounds. The right return has a French window on the ground floor, with an overlight in a keyed surround, and a blind sash window above it on the first floor. The second floor showcases a four-pane sash in a keyed surround. A lead rainwater pipe and hopper head drain the roof valley, with a stack positioned between the bays. The second bay on the right return has a tripartite window with glazing bars in an ashlar surround on the ground and first floors, and two four-pane windows in keyed surrounds on the second floor.

The interior features six-panelled doors off a central hall, and a curving open-well staircase, originally with stick balusters but now with 20th-century turned balusters. A blocked four-light mullion window, previously noted on a former list description, has been removed. The main range is one room deep and formerly had a substantial chimney between the first and second bays.

A new chamber was added by John Clervaux, who died in 1443, for his son Richard. Richard Clervaux also established a private chapel licensed in 1453 and likely made further improvements. His descendant Elizabeth married Christopher Chaytor, and the property remained in the Chaytor family. The estate was later abandoned when Sir William Chaytor built Clervaux Castle nearby, designed by Ignatius Bonomi in 1842-3 (demolished in 1951).