Ribston Hall

Ribston Hall is a large country house dating from 1674 with significant alterations in the early 18th century, originally built for the Goodricke family. The house is constructed of red brick in a Flemish bond pattern, with ashlar dressings and a Westmorland slate roof. It has two storeys and 15 bays.

The south front, built in the 17th century, features rusticated quoins. The central double doors are panelled and flanked by Corinthian columns supporting an open segmental scrolled pediment. Flanking the doors are four-pane sash windows within architraves with floating cornices. The first floor has fifteen-pane sash windows with architraves, and there is a decorated panel below the central window. Pairs of short ashlar pilasters are located below the windows, and the overhanging eaves display a modillion cornice. The roof is hipped, likely in an 'M' shape. There are two stacks on the ridge above bays 5 and 11, further stacks on a parallel ridge to the rear, and on the ridges of the side wings.

The rear elevation, dating to the 18th century, has a central doorway with Tuscan columns supporting a triangular pediment. All windows are fifteen-pane sashes in recessed frames. The two outer bays project as side wings. The left return has a newly-pointed wall with a round-headed staircase window. The right return features an attached chapel. A lower, seven-bay range of 18th and 19th century date, attached to the left (west) end of the house, was demolished around 1980.

The interior of the central five bays of the south side contains a large saloon with mid-18th century plasterwork. The ceiling was renewed circa 1790-1800 and redecorated in 1846 by C. Moxon of London, responsible for the current colour scheme. The plasterwork incorporates numerous classical motifs, including laurel wreaths, urns, trophies, and eagles. Wall panels contain copies of Italian paintings. Elaborate end fireplaces are present, as is a main door in a round-headed arch. A doorway to the north entrance hall has flanking Corinthian columns and a triangular pediment. Other rooms on the south side include a small room with panelling and a 17th century carved wood overmantle depicting fruit and flowers, and a library with access to the chapel. On the north side of the house is a fine Adam-style dining room with columns and plasterwork and carved wood, which is in the process of redecoration.