Description

TL 1444 OLD WARDEN

11/120 Old warden Park

GV II*

Country house, now part of the Shuttleworth Agricultural College. 1875-76
by Henry Clutton for Joseph Shuttleworth, who had become wealthy through the
success of his Lincolnshire engineering firm, Clayton and Shuttleworth. The
house was to imitate Gawthorpe Hall (c.1600), the home of the well-established
Lancashire Shuttleworths. Later wing 1883, probably by W Bennison, and some
additions and internal alterations (1896) by R Weir Schultz. Mainly ashlar,
with service wing partly in yellow brick. Jacobean style. 3-storeyed
rectangular block with single-storeyed roof-lit central hall. 4-stage tower
and lower wing to E. Rooms arranged in balanced, although not always
symmetrical, plan. S elevation: 5-bay facade, central and outer bays with 3-
storeyed canted bay windows. All mullion and transom windows, those to 2
recessed bays with moulded labels. Central bay, approached by flight of
steps, forms porch at ground floor. This has round-headed stilted archway
with moulded surround and label, flanked by clustered columns with bases at
various heights. Doorway itself has segmental head with moulded stilted arch,
and dripstone whose stops merge into wall (as do stops of all dripstones
throughout building). Panelled and part-glazed double doors. Plain string
courses to first and second floors. High parapet, plain with loopholes above
recessed bays, with horseshoe-arched arcading above projecting bays. Various
multiple chimney stacks, all of linked octagonal flues with moulded cornices.
W elevation has 2 3-storeyed rectangular bays. N elevation has projecting 3
window bay to centre, with rounded angles above ground floor level supported
on moulded corbels. Projecting bay has part-glazed door to LH, surmounted by
stained glass window of the seasons, the whole within moulded label. Similar
fenestration and parapets throughout. lower: lower stages are plain, with
loophole windows to 3rd stage. Top stage has balcony to all sides with
similar balustrade to that of house parapet. Clock face to each side, flanked
by louvred windows and surmounted by arcading similar to house parapet. Plain
parapet with loopholes. E wing is partly, if not entirely, a later addition.
Partly of yellow brick with stone dressings, in simpler style than main block.
Most windows smaller and mullioned, except for large mullion and transom ones
to former billiard room which are similar to those in main block. Interior:
Ground floor retains most original decoration. Front hall: pink marble
chimney piece with white marble relief of boar hunt, fairly plain geometric
plasterwork mouldings to ceiling. Library (of which chapel is C20
subdivision): rather Rococo in style; 2 white marble chimney pieces with gilt
framed mirrors; light plasterwork panels to walls and ceiling with rinceaux,
festoons, etc; 2 carved wood bookcases set into S wall of N half. Dining
room: simpler Rococo style, including carved wood fire surround and
overmantel. Central hall: heavier decoration, including deeply coffered
gilded ceiling, half-height oak panelling, and marble and wood chimney piece
with grotesque heads, rinceaux and Shuttleworth coat of arms. Staircase:
simple rectangular ceiling mouldings, open well stair in oak with square
section moulded balusters. Billiard room (now Resources room) in E wing:
plaster cornice frieze with strapwork and festoons. Carved wood chimney piece
incorporates caryatids and panels showing biblical scenes, probably Jacobean,
and may be reused from the house of 3rd Lord Ungley, demolished to make way
for Clutton's building. E tower contains service stairs and lift.
(P Hunting, "Henry Clutton's country houses", Architectural history, vol.26,
1983, pp.100-104).

Listing NGR: TL1464444236

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• The Mansion House at Wikipedia
• The Mansion House official website
• Wikidata Q7750219

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

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)