Description

WALFORD CP -
SO 52 SE

4/53
Hill Court
18.8.68
GV I

Country house. 1698-1700, heightened and extended mid-C18. Brick in
Flemish bond with sandstone dressings and hipped slate roof. A symmetrical
composition with a central block of three storeys and seven bays, and links
to one-bay wings. Chamfered quoins. Three central bays break forward and
have quoined angles and a pediment with the shield of arms and crest of the
Clarke family, cornucopias, and other carved decoration. The parapet of the
main block has balustrading above each bay. The windows have architraves
and glazing bar sashes. The central window on the first floor has a cornice
and fluted frieze. A balustrade links it to the door architrave beneath
which has guilloche ornament and a cornice on brackets. The recessed links
have first floor windows with round heads, and similar ground floor doorways
set forwards. The first floor wall of the right-hand link has been extended
forwards. The wings are pedimented and have Venetian windows on the ground
floor. The garden front, facing west, is treated in a similar manner, but has
a balustrade instead of a central pediment. The doorway is of c1700, with
bolection moulded surround, carved frieze, and swan-necked pediment with
central crest. A first floor window on the north wall of the main block is
of the type used for the original house, with timber mullion and transom.
Interior: entrance hall floor is of sandstone and polished slate in oval
pattern. The walls are lined with oak bolection moulded panelling and the
fireplace has a surround with similar moulding. The hall opens into a stair
hall with an open-well stair which has an open string, three barley-sugar
balusters to each tread, ramped handrail, and carved tread brackets. The
balusters and rails are of walnut. The lowest newel is a Corinthian column.
The others are formed with four grouped balusters. The half-landings have
parquetry in geometric patterns. The plaster ceiling by Richard Symonds
includes a central wreath of fruit and flowers: The two front rooms on the
ground floor have painted panelling, that to the dining room, to the south,
being a mid-C20 introduction in keeping. The rear room on the north side
of the main block is lined with panelling fitted in 1708, which has walnut
veneer, oak frames, and cedar panels. Above the fireplace is a mirror panel,
with a hinged fire screen to the left. The internal fittings of the north
wing are of c1830 and include decorated cornices. The Venetian windows are
divided on the inside by Corinthian columns. A fireplace of c1760 in the
east room was moved from Goodrich Court in the mid-C20. The central front
bedroom of the main block is lined with painted rockwork panelling of 1704,
with Chinoiserie scenes on the rails and stiles and with ruin pieces over
the chimneypiece and door. The Clarke family lived at Old Hill Court (qv)
before building Hill Court and were acquainted with John Kyrle, the "Man
of Ross", to whom the design of Hill Court was traditionally attributed:
Accounts for the building and fitting out of the house survive. (Country
Life, 27.01.66, 03.02.66, 10.02.66).

Listing NGR: SO5750621652

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Hill Court Manor at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5762091

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

• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper