Description

LONGHIRST LONGHIRST HALL
NZ 2289 & NZ 2288
10/19 & 11/19 The Hall
20.10.69
GV II*

Country house, 1824 by John Dobson for William Lawson. Ashlar; tooled-and-
margined sandstone in service wings; slate roofs. Square villa with lower
block and then pair of service wings to north. North-east link to conservatory.
Greek Revival style.

West entrance front 2 storeys, 3 bays, the central a projecting pedimented
portico with giant Corinthian columns, distyle in antis; modillions and anthemion
ornament. Two steps up into portico; at rear panelled double doors in architrave
under tall 3-pane overlight with cornice on carved consoles. Margined sash
window above with carved cornice; coffered stone ceiling. Flanking bays have
moulded plinth, Corinthian angle pilasters and tall margined sashes in architraves
carried down to the plinth; upper windows in shallower eared architraves; full
entablature as on porch. Hipped roof with 2 corniced transverse stacks on the
rear slope. Set back lower 5-bay left section with similar entablature and
projecting left bay; moulded plinth and sill bands, 12-pane sashes to ground
floor and margined sashes above, 15-pane in left bay in corniced architraves.
To far left service wing of 6 irregular bays.

South front has similar detail: 5 bays, the central a semicircular bow whose
lower windows have carved consoles. East front again similar, 5 bays. 3 steps
up to French window in bay 4. Lower 5-bay service block to right, with link to
conservatory at end.

Interior: spectacular ashlar-faced central hall, oblong with apsidal ends.
Imperial stair, opening under Ionic screen, has wrought-iron balustrade with
anthemion frieze, moulded and wreathed handrail. Balustrade continues around
landing balcony. Coffered vaults with carved spandrels, central glazed dome.
Library and dining room have rich plasterwork. Plain marble fireplace in
drawing-room; contemporary doors,panelled reveals.
The first of Dobson's great country houses.
'Longhirst Hall and Nunnykirk' Girouard. Country Life CXXXIX 352 et seq.

Listing NGR: NZ2235388983

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17546904

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

• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)