Building record 485/3/1 - Marston Trussell Hall

17th century house rebuilt/remodelled during the 19th century.

{1} Country House. Mid C17 and C18, altered mid C19. Limestone ashlar, squared coursed lias and brick with slate roof. U-shape plan. 2 storeys with attic. Main front has centre block of 3-window range with flanking wings projecting. Central C19 porch has moulded stone decoration and castellated parapet. C19 four-light stone mullion and transom windows flanking and to first floor. Ashlar parapet has moulded stone cornice. Projecting wings are gabled and have large C19, 2-storey canted stone bay window with crenellated parapets. 2-light stone mullioned attic windows above have moulded stone panels over with armorial crests. Ashlar stacks at ridge with moulded stone cornices. Garden front, to left of main front, of 4-window range of C19 stone mullion windows with large canted stone bay window to right and castellated ashlar parapet. Rear elevation, to left of garden front, is part C18 chequered brickwork and part squared coursed lias. Projecting cross wing to left has casement with lead to first floor return wall. C18 sash at first floor has glazing bars and some crown glass. Elevation to right of main front has one blocked 2-light stone mullion window at first floor. Interior: Hall has panelling, probably late C17 with plaster frieze above. Plain marble fireplace surround. C18 staircase with quarter landings has barley twist balustrade and C18 panelling. Late C17 service staircase off the hall rises around a square well and has turned balusters. The drawing room projecting wings to left and right of the hall have C18 panelling, some reset and replaced in mid C19. Drawing room has late C18 arch headed alcove to left of fireplace. All ground floor rooms have central moulded ceiling beams and some early C18 six- and 8-panelled doors. First floor landing and 3 first-floor rooms to main front all have C18 panelling, some reset and replaced in mid C19 and moulded wood cornices and ceiling beams. Passage to right of staircase and room have C17 moulded stone fireplace surrounds. Dogleg staircase to attic. Some original roof timbers survive. A C19 wing to the left of the main front was removed in the mid C20.

{3} The building seems externally all Victorian. At the back there are some late C17th windows. The staircase with twisted balusters goes with them.

{4} Three undated photos.

{5} Marston Trussell Hall "is an Elizabethan structure, which was added to ... about half-a-century ago."

{6} [Former list description] "Marston Trussell Hall. Grade II. Reputed to be later C.16. The limestone shell is entirely C.19, but there may be earlier work in the interior. (Inspection not permitted). There are some fragments of early
carved stonework about the garden. Photograph in National Buildings Record."

{7} O.S. published name confirmed. MRS. BARR said that the south-eastern wing of the house was originally a small farmhouse which was greatly extended to the west in the 19th c. The northern wings have been demolished in recent years.

{8} The south entrance front of Marston Trussell Hall is in an elaborate 19th c. pseudo-Elizabethan style. The easternmost wall of the south-east wing and its northern end are of original, irregularly-coursed ironstone, patched with brick. In the east wall are two two-light blocked mullioned windows, and in the northern wall modern windows have been inserted into stone surrounds with moulded drip-courses. Their appearance is consistent with a 17th c. date. The remainder of the house is built of comparatively recent brick. G.P.s AO/60/17/7. Aspect from South /8. 17c. (?) wall from East.

{9} No change.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 1/37 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.303 (checked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Photographs of buildings in Marston Trussell (Photographs). SNN112801.

<5> 1903, Journal of the Northamptonshire Natural History Society and Field Club, p. 48 (Journal). SNN19932.

<6> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, "Min. of Local Govt. & Planning. ProvisionalList of Buildings .. Aug 1950", p.32 (Report). SNN112993.

<7> WW, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F1 WW 28-MAR-60 (Note). SNN111457.

<7a> Historic England, Unknown, Oral information, correspondence (not archived) or staff comments, Oral: MRS BARR. Owner, Marson Trussel Hall (Oral Report). SNN111577.

<8> WW, 1960, Field Investigators Comments, F1 WW 28-MAR-60 (Note). SNN111457.

<9> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F3 JB 16-MAR-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<10> Historic England, Marston Trussell Hall photographs (Archive). SNN115483.

Record last edited

Sep 25 2023 3:22PM