Cross O'Cliff Court, Bracebridge Heath, Lincolnshire

Summary

A house, built 1907 for Arthur C Newsum, possibly designed by himself.

Description

A house, built 1907 for Arthur C Newsum, possibly designed by himself.

MATERIALS: the house is built of brick with stone dressings under a tile roof.

PLAN: the entrance elevation faces east, with the principal range of the house running north-south. Wings at each end give the effect of a U-shaped forecourt.

EXTERIOR: the houses is characterised by its Arts and Crafts Tudor Revival style, with long brick elevations punctuated by canted bays, stone-dressed windows with mullions and transoms and tall chimneys. The main entrance is housed in a central bay in a moulded surround with a diamond-shaped insert of stone above, and has timber doors with glazed upper halves. This is flanked by angled corner bays; that to the left with a large window lighting the stair. A further bay on the left, southern wing contains a carved plaque which reads "G.M.N / OCTOBER.3.1907". The eastern facing gable is blank save for a tall central chimney. North of the main entrance is further bay, and beyond a small service courtyard and single storey service range. Beyond this is the former motor house with one pair of doors surviving.

The western, garden facade is obscured at ground floor level by later single storey additions of brick, timber and glass. Above this is a sweeping roof over the central rooms between two tall gables; one blind with a tall chimney and one with windows at the upper levels. The windows in this elevation are largely uPVC.

To the south, the near-symmetrical facade has three full-height bays; that to the left with a full height window lighting the reception hall within. Garden doors flank the central bay; these are uPVC replacements.

INTERIOR: the main entrance opens into a hall which runs most of the length of the main block, with the principal rooms and main stair accessed from it. The stair rises in two flights with a half landing and is of timber with a closed-string handrail with turned balusters and square newel posts, with some pegging to show the construction in the Arts and Crafts manner. The main double-height reception hall retains its panelling and large fireplace with a stone surround and timber overmantel carved in the style of the late-C16/early-C17, and a high vaulted ceiling with moulded beams. The hall has a minstrel's gallery, now screened off at its upper level, supported on moulded timber posts with a balustrade above in the same style as the main stair, and a carved inscription which reads "THE ORNAMENTS OF / THE HOUSE ARE THE FRIENDS / WHO FREQUENT IT".

Other ground floor rooms retain a number of fireplaces in differing styles, at least one with a tiled insert. Door architraves and some original doors survive throughout, and ceilings largely have plain cornicing or moulded timber beams. Some ceilings are obscured by modern suspended tiles. The back stair survives as does the space of the kitchen with ancillary rooms beyond.

The first floor also retains a number of fireplaces of varying styles and degrees of ornament. One room has a timber moulded surround with decorative tiled insert, and pillars flanking the plain overmantel above. In another room the timber fire surround is flanked by inbuilt timber cupboards and shelving. The staff rooms at the northern end of the house also survive, accessed by the back stair and separated by a door from the main first floor of the house.

SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: opposite the main entrance to the house stands a pair of ornamental brick and stone gatepiers, with gate between.

History

Cross O'Cliff Court was built in 1907 for Arthur Cookes Newsum, a prominent Lincoln businessman, councillor and former mayor of the city. The architect of the house is unknown. The land on which the house was built was previously undeveloped farmland on a high ridge overlooking the valley of the River Witham below, and the city of Lincoln to the north.

The house first appears on the 1932 Fourth Edition Ordnance Survey map. The main house itself is depicted largely as it survives today before the addition of later extensions and buildings. It stands in large grounds with a sweeping, semi-circular drive to the east; the two ends of the drive terminated in formal gates on the London Road. This eastern part of the garden is shown as laid to lawns with some shrub planting and paths throughout. South and west of the house appear to have been formal gardens, with a sundial depicted in the southern garden. The grounds at Cross O'Cliff are suggested to have been designed by Thomas Mawson, though no evidence is available to verify this.

Arthur Cookes Newsum was a local businessman, who was chairman of the firm of H Newsum, Sons and Co, timber merchants of Lincoln, Gainsborough and London. He had also been a local councillor and was Mayor of Lincoln between 1905 and 1906, as well as numerous other local appointments.

Arthur Newsum died at Cross O'Cliff Court in 1934, and the following year the property was advertised for sale. The sale particulars gave a description of the house and grounds and their principal features. The house is described as having "a fine oak panelled and tapestried Reception Hall with Minstrels Gallery, Dining room, Boudoir, Library, Full Sized Billiards Room, with Lounge, bay window opening on to gardens and verandah. 5 bedrooms and 2 Dressing rooms, beautifully fitted bathrooms...Convenient Servants' quarters... There are also Motor House for 2 cars with inspection pit; Workshop; Engine House...". The detailed description of the grounds includes mention of tennis, bowling and croquet areas, terracing and woodland walks and flower beds.

Following this, the house was sold to the Harmston Hall Colony for use as a hostel ancillary to their main premises at nearby Harmston Hall Hospital. The building remained in institutional use and was absorbed into the National Health Service following its creation in 1948. It was later converted to office use and remains as such (2021). During the latter part of the C20 additional buildings have been erected in the grounds and are linked to the main house by a single storey walkway.

Reasons for Listing

Cross O'Cliff Court, a house of 1907 for Arthur Newsum, possibly designed by himself, is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:

Architectural interest:

* for the quality of its Tudor Revival design which demonstrates an understanding of Arts and Crafts principles;
* despite its apparently simple external design, the house displays discreet ornamentation and thoughtfully executed proportions which speak to its quality;
* the house retains a significant proportion of its internal layout and features, with bespoke features in the principal spaces which are complemented by the good survival of features throughout.

Historic interest:

* as a good example of a Tudor Revival house which reflects the Arts and Crafts movement;
* for its association with Arthur Newsum, a prominent local businessman and former Mayor of Lincoln.

External Links

Historic England Listing

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