Building record 2799/2/1 - Southwick Hall, attached walls and Stable Block.

Country house. Built in the 14th century for the Knyvet family, datestones 1571 and GL/1580/ML record rebuilding of hall and cross-wing for George Lynn. Late 18th-century additions and alterations for another George Lynn and 19th-century additions and alterations for Capron family, some probably by E.F. Law. Also includes a late 19th century stable to the north, now converted to flats. Grade I listed building

{1} Country house. C14 for Knyvet family, datestones 1571 and GL/1580/ML record rebuilding of hall and cross-wing for George Lynn. Late C18 additions and alterations for another George Lynn and C19 additions and alterations for Capron family, some probably by E.F. Law. Squared coursed limestone and limestone ashlar with Colleyweston slate roofs. Originally hall and cross-wing now irregular courtyard plan with attached stables. 2 storeys with attics and 3 storeys. Entrance front, to south, has C14 south-west wing, projecting to left and late C16 four-window range to centre and right. South-west wing has doorway with 4-centred arch head, inserted in 1909. C14 two-light window, with renewed geometrical tracery, above. Projecting stair turret and one bay to left of entrance is 3 storeys, of later C14. C16 round-head doorway to base of stair turret, and one-window range of simple single-light windows, with stone surrounds, to left. Steeply gabled roof to right with ashlar gable parapets, finial and ashlar end stack. Turret and bay to left have plain ashlar copings, with shallow gabled roof behind. Octagonal medieval end stack has cusped openings to each face; capping is missing. Right gable of south-west wing has a 2-light, square-head, stone mullion window to first floor, set in a shallow projecting bay with a stone lean-to roof. Single-light window to ground floor of bay is reset. Similar, single-light window to first floor left. Narrow one-bay range to right of this elevation has gablet over and links with late C16 range. Late C16/early C17 square-head doorway at ground floor is now blocked. Single-light windows above have ogee and pointed heads. 4-window range to centre and right, on site of hall and cross-wing, has 3-and 4-light stone mullion windows; those at ground floor have transoms. Bay to left containing Dining Room, breaks forward and is gabled on 2 faces. Both gables have similar fenestration to 3 levels. Bay to right, containing the Justice Room is set back. Centre 2 bays containing the Hall have twin gables. Square-head door to right. Double chamfered plinth, moulded string course between floors and ashlar gable parapets, kneelers and finials. Ashlar ridge and end stacks have moulded cornices. Datestones 1571 to right and 1580 to left. Bellcote above right hand kneeler of hall range. Elevation to right of entrance front was partly reconstructed, and a first floor added, late C19. Irregular 5-window range with gable end of Justice Room to left. 2-and 3-light stone mullion windows. Carriage arch to far right has segmental head and ashlar dressings. Ashlar stack to apex of left gable and similar ridge stack. Garden front, to left of entrance front, is an irregular elevation dating from C14, late C18 and early C19. C14 south-west wing, to far right, has 3-storey gable end containing priest room with gable end of Gothic Room behind. One-window range with C19 two-light Gothic windows to each floor. Return wall of Gothic Room has one C14, two-light, window with Geometrical tracery. C19 bay to left originally a staircase, now hallway, has 2-light stone mullion window with transom. Hipped lean-to roof with gablet at apex. Early C20 glazed lean-to to left. Gable of Dining Room range, behind, has circular window in apex. Late C18 central projecting wing has canted wooden bay window, with Gothick glazing bars, to gable end. Central arch-head window above, with flanking smaller windows, all with Gothick glazing bars. Range to left has one large, first floor, tripartite sash window, with Gothick glazing bars. Lower section of window opens onto flat roof of single-storey C19 range. Gable end of north range to far left has lunette in apex. Rear elevation of north range has a 4-window range of early C19 leaded casements under flat stone arches, to right; 2 are blind. Irregular 2-window range of casements, to centre, with open through passageway to courtyard, at ground floor. C16 single-storey kitchen to far left has C20 garage door. Courtyard: rear elevation of entrance front has early C14 gabled projection to centre with a circular stair turret to right. Two 2-light stone mullion windows with evidence of arch-head window above, in gable. Stair turret has one cross light. Turret has C18 upper section with vertical slate hanging and conical roof. Gable behind turret also has vertical slate hanging. Courtyard elevation of north range has a lunette to left with a 7-light, part-leaded, casement above. Late C19 stables, now part dwelling, are parallel to north range and attached by C19 wall to western corners. C19 walls to eastern corners have ashlar gatepiers. 2 storeys, 5 bays with gabled centre bay breaking forward. Flanking half dormers with stone gablets over. Coach house doors to left and right of centre and stable doors to far left and right. Ashlar gable parapets and ashlar stack at ridge. Interior of main house: entrance hall is C14 undercroft of Gothic room in south-west wing and has vault with chamfered ribs carved corbels and central boss. Similar undercroft to left has chamfered ribs. Spiral stone staircase leads off this room and gives access to the Gothic Room, which has restored C14 fireplace with sloping hood and carved corbels. East window has arched recess, to left, and piscina to right and may have been used as an oratory. Partially visible moulded cross beams. Stained glass in tracery of north and south windows is C14 arms of Montfort of Beaudesert and Bohun. Priest room to left has a blocked fireplace beneath the window and blocked doorway to north wall, probably to a garderobe. Room above is similar. Inner staircase hall is probably C19 remodelling with C18 style turned balusters and panelling. Breakfast Room, to left, has C18 fielded panelling, half domed cupboard to left of door and reeded marble fireplace. Dining Room to right of staircase hall was former cross-wing and has C18 dado rail and wooden fireplace surround with restrained Rococo decoration. Hall to right of dining room has C18 style decoration said to be C19 remodelling; large fireplace surround and pulvinated friezes over doors. Passage to right of hall follows line of original screens passage and has C18 arch over and C14 doorway at north end. Justice Room to right has C18 stone fireplace with carved surround. C14 circular stair turret to north of main range has C18 wooden spiral stair. Undercroft to right has chamfered rib vault and 2 shouldered doorways. 2 first floor rooms, and lobby, over Dining Room have fielded panelling and one room has fireplace with eared surround. 2 first floor rooms above the Hall have plain barrel vaulted ceiling. The Oak Room, to the west, has C17 panelling, with decorated frieze, and stone fireplace surround. The Wainscote Room, to the east, has a C18 stone fireplace with eared surround. Attics over Dining Room range also have barrel vault ceilings. C16 kitchen in north range has raised cruck roof structure also open fireplace and arch head d orway, both now blocked. Room to left of kitchen has large open fireplace with bressumer and stop-chamfered spine beams, room above has fireplace with stone surround. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: p405; RCHM: An Inventory of Architectural Monuments in North Northamptonshire: p139; Oswald A., Country Life: 24 May 1962: p1236-1240; 31 May 1962: p1298-1301)

{7}George Lynn, Esq Lord of the Manor hath an old mansion house on which are the dates 1571 and 1580;

{8}"Hall 1854"; faint sketch in which building hardly visible; appears to be more general view over village with church as most apparent feature;

{9} Undated photo.

{10} As authority {3}. See AO/62/51/5 Hall. Aspect from East. AO/62/51/6 Hall. viewed from South-West

{11} As described by authority {3}. Outstanding.

{12} [Former list description] An irregular and picturesque mixture of building dating from 14th century to 18th century with minor later alterations. Stone with coped gable ends crowned by finials and with traditional stone chimneys with cornice heads. Part two storeys, part three storeys.
The plan of the old buildings forms a rough cross with an addition of a modern service. On the north east end. From the south at the left hand and in front of the central part of the house is a two storey block of mid 14th century date with a pitched roof and gables facing east and west. The east gable end has a 1st floor traceried oriel window in centre and a small single light to left hand of this window. The south front has an arched traceried upper window over a modern doorway. The left hand side of this block has a stone newel staircase in projecting turret with splayed sides which connects with a late 14th century two storey extension on the west side.

A narrow connecting lobby on the north side of this block links it to the main part of the house which is dated 1571 and 1580. This comprises a three storey block adjoining the previous part, gabled on south and east fronts and projecting in front of a double gabled two storey section in which is the great hall on ground floor with entrance to former 'screens passeg' on the right hand. Further to the right is a two storey extension of 1 bay again set back. All windows in 16th century parts are stone mullioned with cornice heads. These on ground floor have been altered. At the back of the 16th century section is a circular stone staircase and a small
adjoining tower the whole height of the building also 14th century. The west front has a projecting late 18th century section of two storeys to the left. On the north front are 17th-18th century and modern service sections. These are bounded across the north side by a long two storey 16th century cut-building and a similar but later stable block lies further north.

Internally the great hall and adjoining rooms and staircase have been altered in 18th century. A 1st floor room in the 14th century block has a piscina and a contemporary fireplace with carved heads. A 1st floor bedroom in the 16th century block has good panelling of this date.

The original house was built by a member of the Knyvet family, altered 16th century by the Lynn family and later by the Capron family who still live there.

Illustrated in Old Halls etc. of Northants by J.A Gotch.

{16} The two shields of arms in the so-called Gothic Room in this house comprise the most ancient domestic glass to survive in the county and are also noteworthy for the elegant stickwork on the fields and grounds. The presence of the piscina points to the room's original purpose as a chapel or oratory. The glass dates from the middle of the C14.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/125 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G10 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.77 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1984, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, 137-144 (Series). SNN77384.

<5> Jenkins S., 2003, England's Thousand Best Houses, p.550 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104722.

<6> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100366.

<8> CLARKE G., 1854, Pencil Sketches, 62 (Drawing). SNN46356.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Southwick (Photographs). SNN113176.

<10> Colquhoun, FD, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 FDC 01-MAY-62 (Note). SNN111652.

<11> Colquhoun, FD, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 FDC 21-JUN-76 (Notes). SNN114457.

<12> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) Dist. of Oundle and Thrapston R.D. Northants. April 1963 116 (Report). SNN112993.

<13> Brown A.E. (ed.), 1981, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1980, p. 185 (Article). SNN100418.

<14> Historic England, SOUTHWICK HALL, BF061892 (Archive). SNN114891.

<15> Historic England, Southwick Hall plans (Archive). SNN114892.

<16> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 174-5 (Book). SNN101533.

Record last edited

Dec 20 2023 12:19PM