Description

BISHOPS TAWTON HALL
SS 52 NE
10/36 Hall House
26.2.65
GV II*

Country house. c.1846-1850 by Philip Hardwick and rear range by R.D. Gould.
Ashlar stonework and dressings. Slate roofs with coped gable ends, ball finial to
right end. Chimneystacks with groups of tall octagonal shafts with moulded caps.
Plain moulded cornice and continuous drip mould above ground and first floor
windows. Irregular double pile plan with principal rooms flanking wide entrance
hall. Banqueting hall adjoins at right angles at left end, extending back into
rear left side range from which a twin gabled section extends to rear right side,
parallel and adjoining to main range. Jacobethan style. 2 storeys and attic
storey. The main range: 2 storeys and attic, 1:3:1 bays, right and left projecting
rectangular 2 storey and attic bays with attic windows in shaped Flemish gables
with ball finials. Smaller central attic gable with obelisk finial. Large central
tetrastyle Doric Renaissance portico with ball finials above each column. Semi
circular headed entrances to centre and to each side, that to centre flanked by
round-arched openings. Round-arched sidelights with fluted keystones to each side
of doorway with fanlight and door with lozenge panels. 3-light window above
flanked by single light windows and 3-light attic window above that. In flanking
bays. 5-light windows to ground and first storeys and 3-light attic windows. All
stone mullion windows and except for attic all with transoms. To left-gabled
slightly recessed single bay, linking main range to banqueting hall which forms
projecting gabled cross-wing to far left with apex gablet, corbel table and bell
turret with pyramidal roof and finial, shouldered-arched openings to front and
rear. Impressive 4-light pointed arched window to gable end with Decorated
geometric tracery. Hoodmould with human head corbels and blind quatrefoil stone
inset above, and flanking buttresses. Three 2-light windows to right side with
trefoil, quatrefoil and cinquefoil traceried heads in sequence from left to right,
each with different hoodmould and a buttress to its left with offsets. 2-light
casement below left side window. Length of walling extending from left side
incorporates C17 doorway with eared architrave and basket arch with cherubs heads
above flanking Chichester family crest. 2-light Perpendicular style windows
between massive lateral stack with offsets and stair turret with segmental pointed
arched cellar doorway in the base to left side of banqueting hall. Variously dated
decorated lead rainwater heads.
Interior: details appear largely intact including plaster ceilings to principal
rooms, large dog-leg staircase with thick turned balusters and stairlight window
with stained glass by Pole Brothers. Reused early C16 bench ends in panelling to
rear right side entrance hall. Banqueting hall has 5 arch-braced trusses,
minstrels gallery, massive open fireplace and painted Royal Arms said to come from
Shirwell Church.

Listing NGR: SS5855727168

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17532184

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

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  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
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  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
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  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
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  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper