Harlaxton Manor, Harlaxton, Lincolnshire

Description

HARLAXTON
SK8932 GRANTHAM ROAD
1315-0/15/163 (South side (off))
19/02/52 Harlaxton Manor
GV I

Country house, and adjoining outbuildings. Now a university.
1832-1844. The owner, Gregory Gregory, acted largely as his
own architect, in collaboration with Anthony Salvin 1832-1838,
and with William Burn and David Bryce 1838-1854. Edward Blore
was also consulted. The remarkable interior decoration,
c1837-1854, incorporates many resited French and German
architectural items, and important plasterwork probably by
Bernasconi. Ancaster stone and brick, with gabled and hipped
slate roofs. Numerous ashlar stacks with multiple coped square
flues.
Elizabethan, Revival style. Plinth, sill bands, shaped coped
gables with finials.
2 storeys plus basement and attics: 11 x 5 bays. Combination
of H- and E-plans. Windows are fixed lights and casements with
stone surrounds, mullions and transoms, and leaded glazing.
Symmetrical west front has a projecting 5 bay central feature
with a pierced lettered balustrade dated 1837. Central 2
storey round oriel window flanked by 2 storey polygonal bay
windows with square bases and topped with ogee domed octagonal
turrets. Round arched doorway with faceted keystone and
voussoirs, half-glazed double door and fanlight. Above and
behind, an arched square base carrying an octagonal turret
with a clock dial, and topped with an ogee domed octagonal
cupola and weather vane. Double side bays have 2 windows on
the main floors, the lower ones larger, round arched
through-eaves dormers, and 3 smaller windows to the basement.
Gabled wings have canted 3-storey bay windows with strapwork
crests and octagonal angle turrets with ogee domes and
finials.
To left, a service wing, 1843, by Burn, forming the north side
of the forecourt, and containing the former brewery. Central
square 2 storey tower with paired angle pilasters and
strapwork balustrade with a central round arched niche, set
back between wings. At each corner, a square stack. 18-light
double transomed window, and below, a round arched recess with
shafts and voussoirs, containing a 12-light window. Recessed
side bays have a blocked door to right and a window to left,
with scrolled panels above. Beyond, 3 bay ranges with a
central triangular bay window and strapwork balustrades and 2
stacks. The brewery, to left, has a round corner turret with a
domed cupola, and a gable stack on corbels.
South return, to garden, has a balanced asymmetrical facade, 2
storeys, with domed polygonal corner turrets. To left, a
gabled bay with a canted 2 storey bay window. To right, a bay
with a 6-light window on each floor, flanked to left by a
canted 2 storey bay window with a round arched arcade to the
ground floor. To right, a gabled bay with a square projection
and a 2 storey round bay window. All the bay windows have
strapwork crests.
Conservatory, to right, single storey, 5 x 2 bays, has glazed
roofs with central clerestorey, and wooden framed glazing bar
windows flanked by pilasters. Pedimented centre flanked by
single windows, then canted end bays with hipped roofs. Right
return has a similar canted corner bay. Rear has a more
elaborate pedimented centre with double doors and overlight,
flanked by 3 windows.
East elevation has a balanced facade. Full height central
block has 3 tall 12-light windows divided by buttresses, and
through-eaves dormers above. To left, an external stack, then
a 3 story polygonal bay window with buttresses, in the return
angle. To right, a similar larger unbuttressed bay window with
a single bay link to the right wing. In the link, a window
with strapwork crest and balcony, and below, a glazed door and
overlight. The central block is set in a sunken court flanked
by pierced balustrade walls. Beyond, gabled wings, with 2
storey canted bay windows and strapwork crests, and attic
windows in the gables. To right, an open loggia with panelled
balustrade and 3-bay round arched arcade. To right again,
plain gabled wing to service range.
Service courtyard (Pegasus Courtyard) to north of the main
building, is in a much plainer. East side has to left a square
2 storey tower recessed between 2 storey gabled wings, 2
windows. To right, a set back range with a facing gable and an
external stack, then a 4 bay block with irregular
fenestration. North range, formerly domestic stables, has a
central external stack flanked by 3 windows, all with mid C20
glazing. To left, a square tower gatehouse with parapet and
round corner turret, and a Tudor arched carriage opening with
double gates, leading to the main stable block. To left of the
arch, a door in the same style. To right, a square crenellated
2 storey tower set at an angle. The south side of the
courtyard is formed by the service wing and former brewery,
and has a projecting 3 bay centre with central tower and round
arched opening. To the north east, a curved brick viaduct, 3
stages, with buttresses and slate roof, containing a narrow
gauge railway for supplying the service courtyard.
The interior has a "prodigious display of of decorative
virtuosity unparalled in C19 England" (Beard). The entrance
vestibule has at the north end two 3-bay arcades with heavily
rusticated round arches adorned with enormous ashlar trophies.
Early C19 Classical marble fireplace with double Ionic
columns. Open well north west stair has a cast-iron foliage
balustrade and a ceiling with strapwork star compartments and
pendants.
Great Hall on east side, 2 storeys, has a low pitched panelled
cross beam ceiling with shaped paired brackets and pendants
carried on terms. Buttressed half-height wooden panelling
incorporating seats. Massive chimneypiece with-panelled and
waisted square pilasters and overmantel with central crest
flanked by round arched niches. Screen with rusticated round
arched doorway flanked by columns, then by round arched
aedicules, all under a strapwork parapet. At the dais end, to
left, a bay window under a vault, with stained glass by
Willement, 1837.
State dining room, to west, has round arched wooden wall
panelling, a frieze of shields, and an exceptionally rich
strapwork ceiling. Large red and white marble chimneypiece
with black marble columns. Moulded doorcases with sculptured,
crested overdoors. Ante room to south has scrolled plasterwork
ceiling with recessed central panel, and heavily enriched
Classical fireplace.
Adjoining long gallery, to the south front, in early C18
French style, has panelled walls and a sky ceiling with
enriched borders. Canted east end has a mottled marble
doorcase with columns, flanked by tall mirrors, then round
arched niches with mirrors above. West end has a bay window. 2
mottled marble fireplaces and in the centre of the long sides,
double doors with elaborate surrounds.
Main stairwell has a white marble doorcase with open pediment
containing putti and twist columns. Open well Cedar Staircase,
fully descibed by Pevsner, has Baroque decoration of
outstanding complexity, culminating in a sky ceiling with
concealed windows, below which are 6 balconies with figures.
Gold drawing room, to east, has plaster panelled walls and
enriched frieze, coved ceiling and rounded corners, 2 of them
with curved double doors. Marble fireplace with bracketed
cornice and overmantel mirror.
Conservatory, to south east, has 2 massive pedimented ashlar
doorcases with marble columns, those to the north twisted.
Open well family staircase, to north east, has scrolled bronze
balustrade and ramped handrail.
Attic level corridors have Renaissance Revival style ornament,
and doors with strapwork panels.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N, Harris J & Antram N:
Lincolnshire: London: 1964-1989: 362-367; Rowlands G:
Harlaxton Manor: Cambridge: 1988-: 40-52, 157).

Listing NGR: SK8953432282

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Harlaxton Manor

A Grade I Listed Building in Harlaxton, Lincolnshire

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