Description

MATFEN MATFEN
NZ 07 SW

14/187 Matfen Hall

27.8.52

GV II*

Country house. 1828-30 by Rickman, completed by Sir Edward Blackett for himself.
Ashlar with Lakeland slate roof. Jacobethan style externally. Symmetrical
main block with large irregular ranges around 2 courtyards on the west side.

South front: Main block, 2 storeys plus attics; 5 bays with each bay breaking
forward from wall face. Centre and outer bays have 2-storey canted bay windows;
all windows are mullioned-and-transomed with roll-moulded surrounds, and each
bay has parapet with pierced diamond-shaped panels; shaped gables over outer
bays. Similar detail to 3-bay section recessed on left. Gabled roof with many
tall, octagonal corniced stacks.

Entrance front (North): Main block 3 storeys, 7 bays. Projecting central
porch tower; Tudor-arched doorway with Blackett shield and motto above and an
elaborate canted oriel window on 1st floor. Projecting on right a symmetrical
6-bay service wing with 3-storey outer bays and centre with mullion-and-transom
crosses on ground floor and gabled half-dormers above. Beyond this the stable
court with 4 Tudor-arched carriage entries.

Interior: very large, full-height Gothic hall with 2 tiers of pointed arches
along south side, lst-floor windows with Geometric tracery on north and east
sides and a huge Geometric window with stained glass,on west side; Gothic oak
staircase with castellated newels; hammer-beam roof. Drawing room has white
marble fireplace by Chantrey with female figures in the jambs and shells in the
frieze. Former library has early C17 fireplace with terms, and overmantel with
strapwork and demi-figures. In west wing a late C17 staircase with twisted
balusters; also a very slender cantilevered spiral stair with sweeping smooth
soffit.

Now used as a Cheshire Home.

Listing NGR: NZ0315871652

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Matfen Hall at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q13529227

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)