Listing Text

SD 31 SE
8/16
26.4.1963

SCARISBRICK
Scarisbrick Hall at

GV
I

Country house, now school. Successive remodelling, rebuilding and
enlargement of C16 seat of the Scarisbrick family, begun in 1814, probably
by John Slater (of Liverpool) and Thomas Rickman, but mainly 1836-1845 by
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin for Thomas Scarisbrick, and 1860s and 1870s for Anne Scarisbrick. Sandstone, with stone slate roofs. Hall facing south-east,
with east and west crosswings, east tower, kitchens (etc), L-shaped service
wing to the rear. All in Gothic style: the west wing of 1814 in early
Gothic, the hall and other parts of the main range of 1836-45 in fully
developed C15 Gothic revival; the east wing and very high tower in
exuberantly French or Flemish C15 style, the integral ornamentation of
these parts becoming more flamboyant and fanciful in the progression from
east to west. The centre of the composition is Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin's 2-storey open-hall, with 2-storey oriels, steeply pitched roof with 3-stage lantern on the ridge, but it is dominated by Edward Welby Pugin's east wing with an octagonal angle turret surmounted by a cluster of large fluttering birds,
and by the tower of extravagant height finished with corner pinnacles and
an attenuated rectangular spire. The kitchen attached at the east end, by
Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, is likewise in C15 Gothic style, octagonal, with
steeply-pitched roof and square lantern. The interior is of equal
interest, containing much elaborate carved oak, etc, some of it of Flemish
origin collected by Thomas Scarisbrick. For extended description see
Pevsner North Lancashire pp.218-223.

Listing NGR: SD3917112594