Listed Building: West Pavilion and attached quadrant colonnade (1371608)

Pavilion. C.1629-35 for Sir Francis Crane, altered late C18, restored 1970. Brick carcase, faced with limestone and ironstone ashlar, hipped slate roof, stone internal stack. 1 storey, attic and basement; 3-window range. Basement is faced with ironstone and has central door with keyblocked moulded limestone surround, flanked by square windows with similar surrounds. Basement forms plinth with moulded limestone band at ground floor level and supports giant order of Ionic pilasters defining bays. Ironstone pilasters with limestone bases and capitals supporting entablature of ironstone with contrasting pulvinated frieze and brown-painted moulded wood eaves. Central bay breaks forward slightly, its pilasters supplemented by portions of 'shadow' pilasters either side and has pediment. Late C18 central Venetian window with moulded limestone head. Flanked by 15-pane sash windows with moulded ironstone surrounds, plain friezes and moulded cornices; sills lowered late C18. Blind attic windows have moulded stone surrounds topped by flat-arched heads of limestone with console keyblocks. Pilasters and window dressings contrast with limestone-faced walling. 2-storey porch wing to right side facing former forecourt of house has similar pilasters to angles and open ground floor with minor order of Ionic columns supporting moulded limestone lintel. Porches to front and rear with similar columns. Tall round-arched windows to 1st floor with moulded stone surrounds, limestone imposts and console keyblocks, blind to front and rear. Pediments to front and side bays shown in Vitruvius Britannicus replaced late C18 by hipped roof. Quadrant colonnade begins to rear of porch wing; now ruinous. Interior: single double-height room formerly library, converted into ballroom late C18. Coved plaster ceiling, fan motif above Venetian window. Room above porch is open to ballroom and forms gallery. Basement has wide shallow brick vault, niches, and entrance to brick-vaulted tunnel running between pavilions below colonnades. Formed part of a tripartite composition with house destroyed by fire in 1886. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, pp415-6; Colen Campbell: Vitruvius Britannicus III 1717, p1.9; Country Life: 23rd July 1953; Stoke Park, Northamptonshire, Guide Book (no date).

Record last edited

Mar 6 2024 1:04PM