Description

NZ 0416 SE STARTFORTH BOLDRON LANE
(South side)

11/161 Low Startforth
Hall and Low
12.1.67 Startforth Hall
East

GV II

House, now 2 dwellings. Low Startforth Hall dated 1633, probably incorporating
earlier fabric, refenestrated on south and 2nd floor added c.1750; mid-C19
east extension is now Low Startforth Hall East. Old part rubble with roughly-
shaped quoins and cut dressings; C19 part roughly-squared stone with tooled
stone east front and tooled-and-margined quoins; graduated stone slate roof.
Double-span plan.

South elevation in 2 sections: Left part 3 storeys, 2 bays; 3-light Gothick
casements in raised and tooled surrounds with lintels (except top left); let
into wall between lower windows a shaped slate panel with quotation from
Horace, 'Hoc erat in votis: modus agri non ita magnus,/Hortus ubi et tecto
vicinus iugis aquae fons/Et paulum silvae super his foret' (This is what I
prayed for: a plot of land not too large, containing a garden and near the
house a fresh spring of water, and a bit of forest to complete it); still
very appropriate: Gill Beck flows through the garden. Left gable coped on
moulded kneeler; stepped and corniced ridge and left end stacks. Right part
same height but 2 storeys, 1 wide bay; similar 1st floor window above canted
bay with plate-glass sashes; roof hipped to right. Right return (east front)
shows three 12-pane sashes above C20 extension. Left return shows large
projecting stepped stack-with 2 small chamfered windows on right, the upper
blocked; line of steeply-pitched Cl? roof visible.

Rear elevation: Old right part has restored chamfered doorway on left with
re-set slab, dated 1633 with initials AA and IC above; scattered small windows,
with fancy glazing, all in chamfered surrounds, that on 1st floor centre with
head dated 1633. Left part has part-glazed 6-panel door in Tuscan doorcase
and similar fenestration.

Interiors: Low Startforth Hall ground-floor east room has large fireplace
with flat-pointed arch in moulded square frame; heavy stop-chamfered ceiling
timbers. West room has C18 fireplace and chamfered beams. Fielded-panel
doors in panelled reveals and panelled segmental arches to lobby. Carved
front door, probably from Streatlam Castle. Open-well cut-string stair with
column-on-vase balusters, square newels and steeply-ramped moulded handrail,
continued up to 2nd floor. Thick spine wall might be pre-C17. Low Startforth
Hall East: Elaborate plaster cornices and ceiling rose. Carved chimneypiece
and panelling brought from Streatlam Castle.

Lower 2-storey part of Low Startforth Hall in former stable range to west,
is not of special interest. The adjacent Low Startforth Close and West Mews,
previously included in the listing, have been much altered and are not of
interest.

Listing NGR: NZ0453316122

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26608549

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

• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)