Description

FAWSLEY
SP55NE
5/80 Fawsley Hall
18/09/53
GV I
Country house. Early C16, north range of 1732 attributed to Francis Smith,
remodelled by Thomas Cundy 1815 and again by Anthony Salvin mid C19, when
raised, and south-east wing of 1867-8 by Salvin. Coursed squared ironstone with
limestone dressings, tiled roof, and brick ridge, lateral and end stacks.
Courtyard plan partially open to north. Great Hall: 5-window range includes tall
2-storey bay window right of centre, half octagonal in plan, mullion and transom
Tudor-arched windows with tracery heads with miniature buttresses and
brattishing to transoms, continued above eaves as complete octagon with 2-light
arch-mullion windows, coat of arms with hood mould below central window and
battlemented parapet left of bay window. 3-light arch-mullion windows set high
in wall and divided by offset buttresses, one similar window to right. Similar
windows to rear divided by buttresses, large rear lateral stack of dressed
ironstone finished with C19 brick and fine service door with moulded Tudor arch
and carved spandrels. To left and right of hall range large C19 Tudor style
wings with grey sandstone dressings. Surviving part of early C16 kitchen range
to south of 2 and 3 storeys with gabled old tile roofs, brick lateral and ridge
stacks. Irregular fenestration with 1, 2 and 3-light arch-mullion windows.
Chamfered Tudor-arch door to left with hood mould, slightly later C16 projecting
wing to right with similar windows and fine 2-storey oriel with battlemented
parapet flanked by offset buttresses and large lateral stack on corbels to right
side; further 3-storey gabled bay with similar 1 and 3-light arch mullion
windows and door to right. To courtyard similar 2-light windows and moulded
Tudor-arch doorway with C16/C17 plank door. Early C16 Brewhouse range to west
has irregular 5-window range of similar 2 and 3-light windows and similar
central chamfered doorway; overlight above with chamfered stone surround with
3-light wood mullion window. Large rear lateral stack to courtyard with C18
brick flue. North gable wall has fine first floor oriel with arch-mullion and
transom lights and side pieces of 2 similar lights. 1-light arch mullion window
in gable above and similar 2-light window below left of centre. Interior: Great
Hall has impressive stone fireplace with quatrefoil frieze, a foliage frieze
above and castellated cresting; blocked window above. Bay window has panelled
jambs and a fan vault with big Tudor Rose central boss. Kitchens have huge
hollow chamfered fireplaces back-to-back, passage ends resting on round pillars
with octagonal bases with chamfered 4-centred arches to passage, stone bread
cupboards, stone-flagged floors. In kitchen wing, rooms with moulded and
chamfered cross-beamed ceilings to ground and first floors with 4-centred arch
fireplaces, a large second floor room with arched brace collar truss roof and
adjacent parlour with barrel-vaulted ceiling with thin quatred moulded beams.
Room behind oriel adjoining to south has similar barrel-vaulted ceiling, huge
moulded cornice, close-studded west wall and 4-centred moulded arch fireplace.
Recently installed and re-arranged a mid C17 staircase from Ashley Park, Surrey
(dem). Salvin wings weatherproof but gutted, south-east wing retaining portions
of Elizabethan style plaster ceilings to ground floor state rooms. Fawsley Hall
was first built in early C16 in various stages, chiefly by Sir Edmund Knightley.
Seat of the Knightleys till World War II. It became a timber factory in 1960's,
at which time the Great Hall lost its original roof. Kitchen and Brewhouse
ranges recently restored by present owner.
(Buildings of England: Northants, p.214-215; Country Life: July 1908).

Listing NGR: SP5622456804

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17526470

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

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)