Doddington Hall, Doddington, Cheshire East

Description

DODDINGTON C.P. DODDINGTON PARK
SJ 74 NW
5/17 Doddington Hall
10.6.52

GV I

Country House. 1777-90. By Samuel Wyatt. Keuper sandstone ashlar
with slate roof and lead flashings. Three storeys. Entrance front:
9 bays symmetrically disposed. Slightly projecting lateral bays and
three central bays which support a pediment. The ground floor has a
deep plinth of smooth ashlar on which the windows rest above which is
chamfered rustication. The windows are all of 3 x 2 sash panes save
for those to the lateral bays which are Diocletian. All have
chamfered voussoirs. To the centre is a staircase with body
of chamfered rustication which has two curved lower flights of stairs
leading to a further bridging flight which forms a porte cochkre to
the ground floor doorway. This half-glazed doorway has a relieving
arch of segmental form as have those of the porte cochere. Opposite
the doorway and carved into the body of the lower two flights is a
round-headed niche. The first floor has a central doorway set within
a slightly recessed round headed archway. This has a tripartite
colonnade superimposed on the lower body with Ionic demi-columns to
either side of the half-glazed double doors and 1/4 columns to the
sides. The side panels are blank as is the archway above the frieze
save for a central medallion showing a female figure wearing a hymata.
The three windows to either side of the centre have windows of 3 x 4
panes with hidden sash boxes. Above each is a rectangular panel with
a moulded surround with a swag and patera in relief. The lateral bays
have tripartite windows of similar form to the central doorway with
superimposed Ionic pillars and frieze and a blank arch over each
containing a roundel, that at left showing a female figure riding a
bull, that at left showing a similar figure on a ram. The left hand
window is a dummy. Dividing this floor from the second floor is a
guilloche band on which the second floor windows, all of 3 x 3 panes,
rest. The dentilled cornice supports a shallow parapet and the
central pediment also has a dentilled cornice-surround and a plain
block acroterion to the apex. The double-ridge roof has eight chimney
stacks, four above this facade and four to the garden front, all of
ashlar and rectangular and each with a moulded cornice. The central
staircase has a balustrade of delicately wrought iron work with square
bars, and panels formed of addorsed S-scrolls containing anthemia.
The left-hand facade is of three bays and has a plinth and chamfered
rustication as to the entrance front with similar smooth ashlar
walling above. To the centre of the ground floor is a Diocletian
window and to either side are sash windows of 3 x 2 panes. The ground
floor has a tripartite window of similar form to the lateral windows
on the entrance front and the roundel above here shows two males
figures (probably Castor and Pollux). The windows to either side of
this are of 3 x 4 sash panes with rectangular panels each containing a
swag and patera similar to those on the entrance front. Similar
band between floors and second floor windows of 3 x 3 panes. Garden
front: 9 bays, the lateral bays are similar to those on the entrance
front, save that the right hand triple window is here a dummy. The
left hand roundel shows a female figure riding a horse with a fish's
tail, that at right shows a similar figure on a dolphin. The three
central bays take the form of a bow surmounted by a shallow dome.
This has central double doors to the ground floor with lateral windows
of 3 x 2 panes. The three first floor windows are all of 3 x 4 panes
and the second floor windows are all of 3 x 3 panes. The lateral
windows of the bow have rectangular panels over of the usual form with
swags and paterae. Above the central window is a roundel showing a
lion in relief. The service wing to right of the entrance front and
connected to the right hand end of the house is of rendered brick with
a slate roof. It curves forward gently and is of 2 storeys and 11
bays. The three bays at the far left and the two at right project
slightly. The ground floor windows are all of 3 x 4 panes and the
first floor windows all of 3 x 3 panes and resting on a plain band
save for one C20 window of 2 casement lights. Ground floor doors at
second and fifth bays from left. Moulded cornice to top of wall. The
rear is similar save that the windows are more widely spaced due to
the curve of the wing. The 4th, 5th and 6th bays from the left are
set in a wide shallow bow marking the kitchen which is of two storeys,
there the ground floor windows are of 4 x 4 panes and the first floor
windows of 4 x 3 panes with double ½-glazed doors at ground floor
left.
Interior: ground floor: circular billiards room has wooden
chimneypiece, doorcase and skirting all of soft wood inset with
pottery banding with design of anthemia in relief. To east and west
are two oval staircases of similar form rising through the house to
oval skylights. Both have delicate wrought iron balustrades with oval
panels of moulded lead in the form of foliage with central anthemia.
First floor: to the centre of the north front is the entrance hall
with double doors to the centre of the soutern wall flanked by
scagliola columns and segmental niches. Similar tripartite
arrangement to northern wall at either side of the ½-glazed doors,
save that the niches are here replaced by windows. Two lateral sets
of doors to the eastern and western walls with central round-headed
niches, that to the eastern wall having a square cast iron stove with
the Delves-Broughton arms. All the sets of double mahogany doors on
this floor have 'sympathetic hinges', a mechanism of pulleys that
enables both doors to open when one is pushed. The frieze has
triglyphs and the Delves crest of a pelican in a coronet to the
metopes. Stone flagged floor. Monochrome rectangular panels showing
putti. Saloon to the centre of the southern front and circular in
plan. Moulded ceiling with central rosette surrounded by authemia and
a chain of ovals formed of laurel leaves around oval paterae.
Anthemia and spirals of foliage to the frieze. The two doorcases have
bands of bay leaf ornament to the door frieze and long tapering
consoles to either side ending in lion masks in square frames. The
chimney piece of white marble has female figures to either side
standing on plinths and holding swags. Oval panel to centre showing
cupid, as elsewhere on this floor the carving is of exceptional
quality and in the style of the Westmacotts. The rectangular and
circular painted panels to the upper walls showing scenes from
classical mythology are in the style of Biaggio Rebecca. The painted
decoration to the pilaster strips showing medallions and foliage is by
McLachlan of Morant Co and of late C19 or early C20 date. The
Broughton room (formerly dining room) has pilaster strips with vine
trails in relief and shallow arched niches to either end. The chimney
piece is of white marble and has a fluted frieze with urns and
finials. The lateral panels have poles surmounted by pineapples
wreathed in swags of flowers and ribbons. The Music Room has a coved
ceiling with foliage patterning to the corners and palm leaves to the
frieze. The chimney-piece of white marble has a fluted frieze and a
central rectangular panel showing flowers and an urn and unusual
instruments in shallow relief. The side panels show entwined
cornucopiae. The other rooms on this floor all have similar chimney
pieces. The library has paired bookcases to either side of the
fireplace and to either side of the doors which are of tripartite form
each with a decorated frieze and double doors below. The
ante-library, originally a dressing room, is octagonal and has similar
bookcases of bi-partite form to three of the angles. The second floor
was a spinal corridor connecting the two staircases lined with
pilasters off which opens a semi-octagonal landing.
Sources: Nikolaus Pevsner and Edward Hubbard - The Buildings of
England: Cheshire (London) .

Listing NGR: SJ7093946474

External Links

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British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Doddington Hall

A Grade I Listed Building in Doddington, Cheshire East

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