Building record 5081/6/1 - Kingsthorpe Hall (formerly Thornton Hall)

A house, also known as Thornton Hall, constructed in 1775 by John Johnson of Leicester. The hall is constructed of ashlar facing with a low pitched hipped slate roof behind a plain parapet. The main house is rectangular in plan of five bays and three storeys, with later additions and a detached stable block to the left. The interior retains some of its original carved marble chimney pieces and a fine spiral cantilevered staircase with a wrought iron balustrade under a lantern dome.

{1} Circa 1775 by John Johnson of Leicester. Ashlar, low pitched hipped slate roof behind low parapet. Rectangular plan, west entrance front 5 windows wide. Sashes with glazing bars in reveals. Plinth, first floor band. Ground floor windows in arched panels. Door, in modern glazed wood porch, has architrave surround under cornice. Interior retains original cared marble chimneypieces, fine spiral staircase with wrought iron balustrade under lantern dome. Kingsthorpe Hall and Stables form a group.

{5} House, 1775. Stables to rear are Listed Grade II. Fair condition with some repairs needed to stonework, windows and joinery. Fire damage now repaired. Conversion to flats agreed.

{6} The hall is a late 18th century building by John Johnson of Leicester. The hall is constructed of ashlar facing with a low pitched hipped slate roof behind a plain parapet. The main house is rectangular in plan of five bays and three storeys, with later additions and a detached stable block to the left. The interior retains some of its original carved marble chimney pieces and a fine spiral cantilevered staircase with a wrought iron balustrade under a lantern dome.
During the removal of debris from the fire it became apparent that little fabric survived either in the roof or in room S1 which had been the seat of the fire. The damaging of plaster showed evidence that the two current fireplaces had been modified as the flues were brick within the stone wall core. It is possible that these were 19th century additions which is the date of the cast iron surrounds. It is also possible that this room was formerly subdivided. The section of wall closest to the doorway is partial lath and plaster with the remainder modern stud work. The windows of this room were completely destroyed and only the 8lb sash weights were salvaged. The roof above this room remained only as charred timbers. The remainder of the rooms on the second floor have retained no original fittings, and were only water and smoke damaged. A sample of 19th century wall paper was recovered and is retained in the archive.
The lanterns' curved section is constructed from lath and plaster on a timber frame. The upper glazed section would appear to be a cast iron frame supporting the triangular glass panels, and may be a later replacement for the original material. The interior decoration of the dome is plaster and consists of a cornice and triglyph frieze with patera around the base. On the curve of the dome there are a series of plaster ribs, which form a petal like design. At the top of the curve a further border with simple plaster mouldings encircles the base of the glazed light.

{7}The roof is pitched around a central well which is filled by the glass dome. Where it could be identified the timber was of machine sawn pine which suggests a 19th century date. The entire ceiling and roof over the south-east corner was almost completely destroyed by fire the only remains being a single truss. At the southern end of the tie beam at ceiling level the timber had been rebuilt as there was a large vertical iron tie rod at the centre of the pitch. The timber had been further strengthened by the addition of an iron plate. The west side is the least affected by fire retaining its ridge tiles.

{9} (SP 74966285) Kingsthorpe Hall Community Centre (NAT)

{12} Three photos dated 1990;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/60 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Northampton, Jan 1976 p.6 H14 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN3381.

<3> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<4> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.47 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<5> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2008, Heritage at Risk Register, 2008, p.39 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN106096.

<6> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 340 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> Prentice J. and Upson-Smith T., 2002, An Archaeological Watching Brief at Kingsthorpe Hall Northampton, Section 3.0 to 4.2 (checked) (Report). SNN103199.

<7> Prentice J., 2002, A Building Recording Survey of the Roof at Kingsthorpe Hall Northampton, Section 3.0 (checked) (Report). SNN103200.

<8> WRIGHT S., 1997, Kingsthorpe, Village or Suburb: a Study of a Northamptonshire Parish 1700-1931, (unchecked) (Dissertation). SNN63023.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1:2500 1969 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Undated, KINGSTHORPE HALL, NORTHAMPTON, BF059949 (Archive). SNN113699.

<11> Undated, Labelled plan of the ground-floor of Kingsthorpe Hall, RCH01/082/01/217 (Archive). SNN113700.

<12> Photographs of buildings in Northampton (Photographs). SNN114989.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 11:49AM