Description

TM 19 NE BRACON ASH MERGATE LANE

5/5 Mergate Hall
2/10/51
GV II*

Large house. C17 and later. Colour-washed brick with plaintiled and pan-
tiled roofs. Originally L plan with a short service wing projecting to
rear at north end of main block. A staircase block and a 2-storeyed wing
with apsidal end fitted between the wings in the early C19. Low laundry
wing added to front at north end in the late C18. 2 storeys with attics
and cellar. Facade of 10 bays of which 8 are arranged symmetrically with
a C19 gabled porch, and C17 2-light mullion and transom windows with several
original metal casements with leaded lights. Early C19 cornice with flat
brackets. 2 large timber-framed attic gables and 2 C19 gabled dormers
with decorative barge boards. Remaining part of facade with a 3-light
ovolo-moulded mullion window with an C18 3-light mullion and transom window
above retaining original lintel. Both lintels decorated with an interesting
egg and dart derived motif. Crow-stepped gabled dormer with an C18 3-light
mullion and transom window and an original rectangular hood mould. To
north side of original service wing one 6-light and one 4-light ovolo
moulded mullion and transom windows with surviving saddle bars, casements
and fittings. Central mullions strengthened with carved scrolled brackets
on interior faces. South facade remodelled in the early C19, with 3 first
floor sash windows with glazing bars and a bracketted cornice. 2 ground
floor windows with Victorian casement frames and possible remains of C17
moulded brick pediments. Large external stack to west side. Early C19
rear facade with projecting semicircular bay with 3 sash windows with
glazing bars on each floor. Skewback arches and taller ground floor win-
dows rising from ground level. One window replaced with French windows).
Staircase addition with a raised and fielded panelled door and an extremely
tall sash window with glazing bars above. Crenellated parapets to these
additions and crow-stepped gables throughout. 2 blocked oculi in north
gable of main block with raised moulded brick reveals. Several stacks
mainly with C19 polygonal shafts. INTERIOR. Extensive C17 panelling
with one blind arched aedicule with fluted pilasters and carved spandrels.
Some original ovolo moulded beams with elaborate faceted stops. One
original fire surround upstairs with a 3-bay geometrically panelled over-
mantel divided by balusters and finely carved borders. One possibly
original staircase to south side of hall - now redundant. Some exception-
ally fine early C18 oak panelling with raised and fielded panels and raised
and moulded borders upstairs. Fine early C19 staircase contained within
a double apsidal plan with square-sectioned balusters and mahogany hand-
rail. Original roofs with a clasped purlin with reduced principals type
over the late C17 wing with unusual ogee moulded stops to the butt-purlins.
Several late C19 cast iron fireplaces with abstract geometrical motifs
designed by Jekyll and produced by Barnard, Bishop and Barnard of Norwich.

Listing NGR: TM1825799394

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532005

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)