Description

SKEFFINGTON

SK 70 SW MAIN STREET (North Side)

4/87 Skeffington Hall

19.10.51

GV II*

Large House, now divided into 2 residences. Circa 1450, extended c1530 and
again in early or mid Cl7 Largely coursed ironstone rubble with white limestone
ashlar dressings. Swithland slate roofs. 2 storeyed with attics. H-plan, the
oldest part forming the south wing. Main front represents the C17 building,
8-bays, with outer coped gables, each with 2 2-light mullioned and transomed
windows on each floor. Central doorway in projecting balustraded porch, the
architrave with fluted shafts, and consoles supporting a scrolly open pediment.
1 2-light mullioned and transomed window each side of it on the ground floor,
and to the left an additional pair of windows lighting the stairs. Over the
porch a canted oriel bay window with mullioned and transomed lights. All windows
have ovolo mouldings. Embattled parapet runs between the 2 gables with paired
string-courses continuous across the facade at parapet level. 3 dormers in
the roof. South front in 3 distinct parts. To the right the return wall of
the Cl7 front range, with 2 2-light mullioned and transomed windows on each
floor, embattled parapet above. Projecting slightly to the left of this is
a block of c1530 in white ashlar work. It represents a full height squared
bay, now built up against its west side and with blind tracery panels in its
east wall, but the main front contains paired 3-light mullioned and transomed
windows, square headed below, scallopped above, contained in an overall composition
with blank traceried panels with shields between them, and projecting string-course
with flag-staff holders above. Embattled parapets and 2 dormers. 2 bays to
the left are of ironstone, finely coursed, and of uncertain date, but the
3-light mullioned and transomed windows are Victorian insertions. To the rear
of this range is the earliest part of the building, a full height canted bay
window with depressed 4-centred arched windows below and true 4-centred arched
lights above, with ornately moulded architraves. Embattled parapet and low
chamfered sills. This represents the bay at the dais end of a hall house.
Right of this and of later date 2 bays with a new single light on each floor
to left, and a Palladian window on each floor beyond, possibly removed from
south elevation in C19. Rear of main range has chamfered 4-centred C16 or
early Cl7 doorway to right with original oak panelled door, and full height
Victorian canted bay window with mullioned and transomed lights. Embattled
parapet and string-course across the entire facade. Gable and axial stacks.
Inside, intricately wrought wood Tudor chimney piece, with grotesque figures
etc., in main hall but probably re-sited from another room. 4-centred arched
stone fireplace with Charles I fireback in another room. Victorian drawing
room panelled in Cl7 or C18 style with some armorial glass.

Listing NGR: SK7418302640

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Skeffington Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17539719

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)