Stokyn Hall

Stokyn Hall

A two-storey house with attic, set in its own grounds close to the north-west boundary of the Community Council area, reached from the main coast road (A548) along an unmade lane for approximately one kilometre.

The building has late 17th or early 18th century origins, although Stokyn is recorded from the 15th century and was once in Mostyn family ownership. The house was altered at the end of the 18th century and was referred to in 1796 by Thomas Pennant as a "small house" that had been "much improved of late years". It was greatly enlarged in the mid 19th century—shown at its present size on the 1871 Ordnance Survey map—and substantially remodelled, particularly internally, around 1900 for a Liverpool timber merchant. This later work is said to have been designed by Waring and Gillow of London and Lancaster, the renowned furniture makers whose firm (founded in the 18th century) amalgamated before 1900.

The exterior has a tiled roof with cresting to the front and slate roofs to the rear, with cement rendering and red brick chimney stacks. The three-bay main north-east front features gabled end bays projecting to contain a central porch with Gothic arches. The ground and first floors are pebbledashed with quoins, while the cement render gables have applied half-timbering around six-pane sash windows. Large tripartite small-pane sash windows light the first floor, with splayed freestone bays to the ground floor with marginal glazing bars to the sashes. The left south-east end has a single window with similar treatment, while the right end contains a partly 19th century rubble range (possibly servants' quarters) set back and in poor condition at the time of inspection in June 1990, with small-pane sashes to the rear.

Two cross ranges to the south-east at the rear are of 17th and 18th century origin, with the lower parts constructed in rubble with peeling render; the upper part of the end range retains older brickwork. These ranges have camber-headed windows of 16 and 20 panes, with sliding sashes and boarded doors to the centre rear. The left-end cross range has a broad chimney breast with three red brick stacks over a toothed cornice. Attached is a single-storey outbuilding of rubble with slate roof, featuring a projecting larder with horizontally sliding sash at the corner and a low camber-headed doorway beside; this range then turns at right angles parallel to the rear of the house to close the narrow yard, with leaded light windows. A mid 19th century stable block lies to the west with pitching eyes.

The interior is entered through a hall with broad dog-leg stairs, coloured glass with armorial panels, panelled shutters, doors and reveals. The public rooms and principal first-floor rooms are said to have been designed by Waring and Gillow, suggesting the firm may also have designed associated furnishings. One room, possibly a library, contains a fine chimneypiece with carved and garlanded heads showing smiling and frowning expressions, with enriched surrounds to flanking recesses. Another room features a well ceiling with moulded cornices. On the opposite side of the hall is a square room with applied timber frieze in Gothic manner, leading into a far drawing room with a light Regency ornamented ceiling and chimneypiece. The kitchen has a central cross beam with diagonal chamfer stops. The first floor retains a fine main bedroom.

Stokyn Hall is graded II* for the special interest of its interior design, which represents an unusual example of the work of the important firm of Waring and Gillow.