Esless Hall

The house comprises a two and a half storeyed single bay main range, with a lower bay (possibly a somewhat later addition) on the same alignment to the W, and a lower wing to the NE. An extension was built to house the staircase and fill in the angle between these two lower ranges to the NW, and is probably early C19. A late C19 block adjoins the lower W wing to the S. Single bay main range is timber-framed with some wattle and daub panel infil, the rest brick; some brick repair work painted in imitation of framing. Steep slate roof with coped gable to left; end and rear wall stacks. Doorway to left in reeded architrave with segmental arch with keystone; round-arched glazed panels to door. 2-light casement windows on each floor and a similar window in a timber-framed dormer are not aligned; upper windows have small panes. Gable-end return to the right represents a later reconstruction when the house was shortened: the principle beams over the ground and first floor were clearly once internal, and the stop-chamfers, and slots for joists are visible. Lower wing to rear is also timber framed though with some brick repair work. 2-light casement windows, including gabled dormer in the roof, and a canted bay window in the gable end. Angled extension beyond has 8-pane tall sash window. Lower W range is largely concealed by the later extensions, but its exposed W gable is timber-framed with brick nogging. Extension to the SW is 2 storeyed, brick painted in imitation of timber-frame. 3-light casement window on each floor. Windows throughout have wooden canopy hoods carried on brackets; scalloped bargeboards to all gables and dormers. Adjoining this extension is a small yard enclosed by a series of single storeyed outbuildings.

The internal layout of the house is probably largely the result of a mid C19 remodelling which created a separate T-shaped hallway with moulded plaster arches at its junctions; moulded plaster cornices in principle rooms of E range. Some early joinery including panelled internal doors and boarded floors; staircase in angled rear extension has plain balusters and banded circular newel.