Cally House

Cally House, built between 1763 and 1765, is a substantial country house designed by Robert Mylne for James Murray of Broughton. Later, in 1795, Thomas Boyd added flanking wings and linking corridors. Significant alterations and remodelling of the interior, along with the addition of a porch, were undertaken between 1833 and 1837 by J. B. Papworth. The grounds were landscaped by James Ramsay in the late 18th century, though later modifications in the mid-20th century resulted in unsympathetic additions to the flanking wings during conversion to a hotel.

The house exhibits a symmetrical layout with a central, six-bay, pedimented, three-storey block connected by corridors built in banded masonry to two-storey pavilions. More recent additions are particularly noticeable on the left side. It is constructed on a deep basement and built with polished granite masonry, accented by red sandstone architraves. The ground floor is channelled and features a band course above it.

The central block is three storeys high, with an unusual six-bay arrangement of 1-2-2-1, where the central four bays project forward under the pediment, which contains an oculus. A massive granite portico with monolithic Doric columns and a plain entablature dominates the front, leading to panelled doors. Windows are single-light, with red sandstone margins, and use sash and case construction with 12-pane glazing on the second floor and 6-pane glazing above. A heavy eaves cornice and plain parapet top the structure. Tall, corniced stacks rise from a piend and platform roof.

The rear elevation features a three-bay bowed bay with two storeys, creating large formal rooms. Flanking it are four-bay sections.

The two-storey wings connect the main house to five-bay pavilions. The pavilions and upper floor of the wings have bays defined by pilasters, a heavy cornice over the ground floor, and a balustraded parapet to the pavilions. The flanks of the pavilions are similarly treated. Rear elevations of the corridor wings have been altered with incongruous additions; the left wing has a full-height glazed front, and the right wing has a flat-roofed terrace. The pavilions retain more of their original appearance, being simplified versions of the main block and featuring a five-bay arrangement with a central three-window bowed bay, all with sash and case windows and multi-pane glazing. They are topped with piended slate roofs and tall corniced stacks. Large, modern blocks, recessed from the pavilions, provide bedroom accommodation.

The interior largely dates from Papworth's alterations in 1837 and includes an elaborate marble hall with a deeply coffered ceiling, along with elaborate plaster cornices in the main public rooms. The dining room has a fruit and flower cornice, while the bow-ended drawing room features a coved ceiling and elaborate carved timber or marble chimneypieces.