Crathorne Hall, Gate Piers And Forecourt Walls

Crathorne Hall, its gate piers, and forecourt walls form part of a country house, now a hotel, built in the 1904 by Sir Ernest George. The building is constructed of ashlar and has graduated stone slate roofs. It is a large mansion in a Dutch classical style. The main entrance front has five bays, two storeys, and a recessed attic which opens onto a terrace with a balustrade. It is flanked by square towers, each with swept pyramidal roofs and domed bell turrets having vanes. A central, segmental-pedimented projecting porch is also present. A tall, central chimney consisting of three shafts rises above the building. A projecting four-bay wing to the left leads to domestic quarters arranged around a courtyard with an arched carriage entrance under a pediment. Traditional detailing is present throughout, including plinths, quoins, window architraves, and modillion cornices. A Venetian window is located within the billiard room. The garden front has fifteen windows, with an Ionic pedimented three-bay centrepiece. The interior is lavish, featuring rich entablatures, carved chimney-pieces, barrelled passages, and columned screens across the reception rooms. The ashlar forecourt walls are punctuated by square gate piers topped with griffin finials.