Listed Building: Flats 1,2,3, Porch House, Bell Tower, Cloisters, South Wing, Pediment, Corner House and Tower House at Dingley Hall (1294135)

Country house, now 10 dwellings. Originally Pre-Reformation preceptory of the knights Hospitalers of St. John but mainly 1558-60 for Edward Griffin and 1670's and 1680's for Sir Edmund Griffin; the latter work is probably by Hugh May or Captain W. Winde. Limestone, lias and ironstone ashlar with Swithland slate roof. Originally courtyard plan now irregular U-shape with projecting wings. Late C17 main front of 8-window range of C20 casements with glazing bars in original openings with moulded stone architraves. String course between floors. Dentilled wood cornice and 5 roof dormers with wood pediments have C20 roof windows between. Hipped roof with ashlar stacks, with moulded cornices, at ridge and eaves. Late C17 projecting wing to left is similar of 3-window range with rusticated quoins. Fine mid C16 porch relocated C19 on end of wing has pairs of fluted Corinthian columns at ground floor flanking 4-centred arch head opening with frieze above. C20 first floor casement in original opening has moulded stone surround with pediment over and ball finials at base and apex. Square panels with rosettes around window and flanking shafts terminating as bulbous pinnacles. Central moulded flourish with volutes and shell. Return walls of porch are similar. Mid C16 wing projects to right of main front and is the rear of the gatehouse. 4-window range of 3-light stone mullion windows, 3 with arch-head lights and one with transom. 2 to left are flanked by pilasters rising from 4-bay ground floor open arcade, of arches with 4-centred heads. Range to right of arcade has 2 C20 doors also with 4-centred arched heads and two 2-light stone mullion windows with arch-head lights. Cornices between floors and ashlar parapet with elongated half-decagons with concave sides and shell and armorial decoration. C20 mansard extension to roof. Octagonal turret to far right has similar parapet with rounded merlons. Late C17 garden front to right of main front of 7-window range of C20 casements with glazing bars in original openings with moulded stone surrounds. Centre 3 bays break forward with pediment over with dentilled wood cornice. Central door opening has C20 casement with moulded stone surround and segmental pediment over, window above has wide moulded stone surround and bracketed cornice. String course between floors and rusticated quoins at corners. Hipped roof with 3 roof dormers and ashlar stacks at ridge. Mid C17 limestone ashlar gatehouse attached to left was originally main entrance to courtyard. Double gates under 4-centred arch head with decorated spandrels flanked by pilasters with corbels supporting diagonal pilasters to first floor. 6-light stone-mullion and transom window to first floor with pediment over. Cornices between floors, and parapets with 3 bulbous finials. Flanking octagonal turrets have parapets with semi-circular merlons. Mid C17 one- and 2-window ranges to left and right of gatehouse are similar with plain parapet and merlons. Inscription around gate arch is part Latin relating to King Philip of Spain. Late C17 elevation to right of garden front of 2-window range with canted projection. Elevation to left of main front has C20 casements. Rear elevation restored C20 has mid C17 turret to right with 2- and 3-light stone mullion windows with arch-head lights and a castellated parapet. Interiors: remodelled late C20, some spiral stairs remain in turrets. House occupied by Griffin family until late C18, then by Hungerford family. Viscounts Downe, who probably relocated the main porch, and then by Admiral, Earl Beatty. Buildings of England, p.185. Country Life: Feb. 14, 1903, p.208 by J.A. Gotch; April 16, 1921, p.462; April 23, 1921 p.494).

Record last edited

Sep 4 2023 3:29PM