Building record 1034/3/1 - Thornby Hall, Walls & Two Gazebos Attached to The North-West

A late 17th-century two storey country house which has additions dating the the 19th century. It was also remodelled during the early 20th century by Charles Mardaunt. Originally the house was E-shaped on plan but now has a more complex plan. It is built of squared coursed lias with stone-slate and tile roofs.

{1} Country house. Late C17, remodelled early C20 by Charles Mardaunt. Squared coursed lias with stone-slate and C20 plain-tile roofs. Originally probably E-plan, now complex. 2 storeys with attic. Garden front of 7-window range. Centre 3 bays are C19 and early C20 with 4- and 6-light stone-mullion windows with transoms; 6-panelled door to left under 4-centred arch with moulded stone surround. The flanking bays are C17 gabled wings with large C20 sixteen-light stone-mullion canted bay windows to ground and first floor. The attic windows are C17 two-light stone mullion windows with arch-headed lights. The flanking bays to the far left and right are early C20 with stone mullion windows. Hipped roofs to centre 3 bays and gable roofs to flanking wings. Ashlar gable parapets with ball finials and large stone stacks at ridge and ends. Elevation to left of 4 bays of projecting gables. Square stone bay to left of centre, other windows are stone mullion windows, all early C20. The 3 gables to the left may be C17. Lead rainwater head has date 1925. Elevation to left mainly early C20 containing domestic offices, one 3-light stone mullion at first floor may be C17 and has arch-head lights. Entrance front has 3-storey projecting porch with moulded stone doorcase and ribbed and studded doors; stone mullion windows all early C20. Walls attached to either side of entrance front with gate openings, gatepiers and 2 gazebos at corners also early C20. Interior not inspected but some rooms noted as having decorative plaster ceilings, wood panelling and moulded stone fireplace surrounds; all probably early C20. The C17 house was extensively enlarged and remodelled in the early C20 for the Wills family.

{3} Country house shown on map. J.Roberts Esq.

{4} Building within an enclosed area marked, but called Thornby Grange; may be confused with the grange to the south-west of the village.

{6} The Hall is a large house with an exterior almost entirely of late date. It is not outstanding.

{8} Undated photo;

{9} Formerly Elizabethan and traditionally where Cromwell spent the night before Naseby. However, the house was transformed and enlarged between 1921 and 1925 for Captain A S Wills by Charles S Mordaunt. Some additions had already been made around 1873 by George Hart.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/112 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), District of Daventry; G03 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Eyre T. (Revised by Jefferys T.), 1779, Map of the County of Northamptonshire, (part checked) (Map). SNN1852.

<4> Bryant A., 1827, Map of The County of Northampton, (part checked) (Map). SNN2733.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), MHLG 1950 1958/11/A 47 (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<6> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 BHS 30-JAN-1969 (Notes). SNN111907.

<7> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<8> Photographs of buildings in Thornby (Photographs). SNN113568.

<9> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 609 (Book). SNN111989.

<10> de Belin, M, 2024, Thornby Hall (Article). SNN116631.

Record last edited

Oct 17 2024 3:50PM