Description

CUMBRIA
EDEN

NY 54 SW HESKET ARMATHWAITE

3/140 Armathwaite Castle

27.12.67

II*

Fortified house and extension. Probably mid C15 with late C17 or early C18
alterations; late C18 extension with late C19 alterations. Extremely thick red
sandstone block walls, the facade of dressed calciferous sandstone, all with
cornice and solid parapet. Double-span hipped graduated greenslate roof within
parapet; banded red sandstone chimney stacks. Extension of dressed calciferous
sandstone walls under Mansard tile roof with banded calciferous sandstone ashlar
chimney stack. 2½ storeys over basement, 5 bays, with 2½-storey, 5-bay, left
extension. Broad stone steps to central panelled and glazed door in quoined
surround under keyed lintel with plain frieze and cornice. Later coat-of-arms
of the Milbourne family over the entrance. Late C19 leaded casement windows in
original stone surrounds; smaller attic sash windows with glazing bars in
original stone surrounds. Straight joint in right return wall; the original
medieval quoin stones with various masons' marks, suggest that the front of the
house has been moved forward, but this is not altogether borne out by the
thickness of the front basement wall. Windows similar to facade. Extension is
of 2 builds, the right 3 bays earlier. Central stone steps to C20 door and
overlight in stone surround. Casement windows in stone surrounds, and gabled
attic dormer windows. Rear fenestration of 4 periods: blocked small
chamfered-surround medieval windows; 2-light stone-mullioned windows with
mullions removed; large C18 sash windows with glazing bars, and round-headed
staircase windows, all in stone surrounds; some C20 windows in cement surrounds
and plain reveals. Left return wall has small chamfered-surround medieval
window, beside which is an C18 sash window in stone surround under a medieval
relieving arch. Interior: no medieval features visible, apart from the splays
of some windows, with masons' marks, and mural recesses thought to be the
remains of newel staircases. Late C17 full-height oak staircase with heavy
barley-twist balusters and moulded handrail. Some early C18 ceiling beams,
moulded plaster cornices and fragments of panelling, otherwise altered after the
1939-45 war into a number of flats and now in the process of conversion back to
one dwelling. Originally the land was granted in 1444 to John Skelton and
passed to his son in 1461, his father having carried out building at great
expense.

Listing NGR: NY5057245873

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Armathwaite Castle at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4792899

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

• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
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  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6