Listed Building: Burton Latimer Hall and wall attached to south (1372367)

Mansion. Probably medieval origin, remodelled and enlarged early C17, west front mid C18, south wing 1872-3. Coursed limestone rubble (with a small amount of ironstone), ashlar west front, Colleyweston stone slate roof, moulded stone ridge, lateral and end stacks. Main block and 2 cross-wings, with additional wing to south. Plinth, coved cornice, coped gables on kneelers. North front: main block, 3-window range; panelled door with panelled reveals in C18 moulded architrave with pulvinated frieze and pediment, to right of centre. 2-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion and transom windows with cornices above, those to first floor gabled half-dormers. Gudgeon-hung casements with leaded panes some probably original. North gable end of east wing has a door with moulded stone surround and 3 2-light ovolo-moulded stone mullioned windows, 2 also with transom. North gable end of west wing has chimney stack and parapet (probably raised to conform with C18 west front). East side: 3 projecting gables, a lateral stack and mullioned windows of various dates, including a large stair window of 4 x 3 lights with a king mullion, beneath the central gable. South front: of main block has door in C18 moulded stone surround with cornice, to left a 2-light ovolo-moulded stone mullion and transom window with cornice and a similar 3-light window and a half-dormer above, and to right a similar 4-light window (with king mullion) to ground floor and has a half-dormer above. Small ridge chimney stack at unction of main block and west wing and a massive 4-flue stack between main block and east wing, with a sundial on south face inscribed "sic transit gloria mundi". Another sundial to west side of east wing, which also has 4-light windows, similar to those on the main block to ground and first floors. The south face of the east wing also has a 4-light mullion and transom window to the ground floor but it is of a different form: the mullions are ovolo-moulded but the window has a panelled surround. Above is an unusual Venetian window (cf window at the Hind Hotel, Wellingborough (q.v.)) within a similar square surround, with keystone and cornice, and with a central light which was originally full-length and opened onto a balcony. The east face of the west wing has inter alia, a 2-light stair window with 2 transoms. The west front is of ashlar (an original plinth) with rusticated quoins and raised band between floors. Coved cornice blocking course. 2 storeys, 5 bays. Central C18 6-panel part-glazed door, in moulded stone architrave with rusticated frieze and pediment (similar to that on the north front). 6/6 sash windows in raised stone surrounds with roll-mouldings and keystones. C19 wing to south has architectural detail based on that of the original building. Interior retains traces of hall and through-passage plan with 3 service doorways, one surviving as entrance to corridor and hints of the other two as recesses in the present kitchen. Hall now subdivided making its colossal moulded stone fireplace and panelled door in eared architrave seem even larger. Similar doors and doorcases in staircase hall. Very fine early C17 dog leg staircase in east wing, with closed string, flattish handrail, square newels with elaborate ball finials and hood shaped drop finial, and bastard Ionic balusters. First floor landing has 2 doorcases with eared architraves and one with "Ionic" pilasters. East wing contains several good C17 moulded stone chimneypieces and one of the late C18 in Adam style (first floor south room). West wing has panelled room to ground floor north with elaborate probably mid C18 chimney-piece. Similar but plainer chimney-piece (now parted) in room above. Roof over main block is of 4 bow, raised cruck construction with collar and purlins but no ridge piece (crucks and rafters halved and pegged at ridge). Carpenters marks. The collar of the central truss is straight but the other two are steeply cambered and have been cut down and re-used. Both originally had at least 7 notches (with peg holes) at the lower edge of one side (the one to the east now has only 6 as it has been cut down at the right, the west on just retained 7, being cut at both ends) and 2 larger notches to the upper edge of the same side, whilst the lower edge of the other side is chamfered. The chamfered side of each especially is dark, suggesting possible smoke-blackening. 2 longitudal members now, helping to carry the ceiling joists are also re-used and have mortises right through them at intervals. The walls at either end of the main block originally appear to have been complete to the ridge, and that at the east end is still almost intact, through the west one has been reduced. Wall to south, of various probably C18 and C19 builds, limestone with some ironstone, incorporating 2 much-weathered square gatepiers with recessed rectangular panels. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, pp.132-3; V.C.H.: Vol.III, p.180).

Record last edited

Apr 5 2022 9:07AM