Description

NY 9365
20/25

ACOMB
THE HERMITAGE
The Hermitage

20.10.52

II*
Country House. South wing rebuilt for Michael Coatsworth (owner 1741-1754),
remainder for Mr. Jurin in 1760's, some earlier fabric being incorporated.
Entrance block, east bay of south wing and some internal remodelling c.1890.
South front tooled-and-margined ashlar, other parts rubble or roughly-squared
stone with cut dressings (part of north-east wing brick-faced towards garden),
C19 parts ashlar; Lakeland slate roofs. C18 house H plan, infilled on west by
C19 entrance block; minor C18 and C19 additions to north.

South front 2 storeys, 7 + 1 bays. 3-stepped base, plinth, 1st floor and 1st
floor sill bands, modillion eaves cornice, balustraded parapet. 7-bay part
symmetrical. Projecting open-pedimented 3-bay centre has part-glazed door in
eared architrave with frieze and cornice. Plate-glass sashes to ground
floor, with 12-pane sashes above,1st floor with cornices on consoles and
pedimented in centre. Diocletian window in keyed architrave above. Right,
slightly set back C19 bay in same style has full-height canted bay facing east.
Hipped roof; 2 tall stepped ridge stacks with panelled shafts and modillion
cornices.

West (entrance) front has C19 projecting 2-bay centre, with similar details:
right bay has 2-bay loggia with balustrade continued around forecourt;
plate-glass sash to left, renewed 12-pane sashes above. East (garden) front has
recessed centre with steps up to glazed double doors in late C19 pedimented
doorcase with lunette above. 12-pane sash windows in raised moulded surrounds
to right and in wing to right.

Interior: Early C19 dining room and library; late C19 drawing room with
elaborately-carved coffered ceiling. Morning room has early C18 fireplace with
deep bolection moulding. Kitchen has fireplace flanked by segmental arches
with rusticated surrounds, and old charcoal-burning oven. Cellars beneath
north-east wing have segmental brick vaults, except for one stone-vaulted
chamber with blocked openings behind brick wine bins.Mid-C18 open-well stair with
swept, moulded and wreathed handrail, turned balusters with faceted band below
the knops, and curtail. Similar balustrades to closed-string servants' stair.
Rococo fireplace in one bedroom and Chinese hand-painted wallpaper in another.

The house takes its name from being the reputed site of the C7 hermitage of St.
John of Beverley. A medieval house, the 'Armytage', is recorded in 1496.

Listing NGR: NY9364065168

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26268163

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

• 
  County Durham (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England) by Elizabeth Williamson Nikolaus Pevsner(1983-03-11)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)