Building record 4392/2/1 - Lamport Hall

Country house constructed in 1568 on the site of an earlier house. Additions and alterations were carried out in 1654-1655 to designs by John Webb and between 1732-1741 by Francis Smith. Also altered during the 19th century. The house comprisies a central two-storey block with two two-storey wings.

{1}Country House, C16 to C19. Built by Isham family. Architects J. Webb, and W. Smith of Warwick, W. Burn, H. Hakewill and A. Goddard. Limestone ashlar with slate roof. Courtyard plan. 2 storeys with attic. Main front of 13 window range. Centre 5 bays breaking forward by J. Webb c.1654-57. Central 6-panelled door with moulded stone architraves have alternate triangular and segmental bracketed pediments over. Small square sash windows to first floor have moulded stone surrounds. Centre 5 bays of rusticated ashlar have dentilled cornice, balustraded parapet and large raised pediment of 1829. Flanking wings of four bays by the Smiths of Warwick, left by Francis c.1732 and right by William c.1741. Similar style to centre 5 bays with sash windows and moulded stone eared architraves; those at ground floor having a pulvinated frieze and cornice over. Rusticated quoins, dentilled cornice with panelled parapet over. Blank basement openings and shallow flight to central door. Inscription above first floor window of centre block."In things transitory resteth no glory" by Hakewill 1829. Ashlar stacks at ridge and end. Entrance facade, to left; 4-window range to right by Francis Smith c.1732 similar to main facade. Large Tuscan porch to left of this range added by Burn. 5-window range to centre and similar 4-window range with half dormers to left also by Burn of 1861 replaced the remains of the C16 house. Sash windows, some with moulded stone surrounds. Short square tower left of centre has open balustraded parapet. Garden facade: Projecting wing to left by William Smith c.1741 has blank arcade at ground and blank windows at first floor of similar fenestration to main front. Centre of facade of 2-window range of sashes similar to main front, linked to projecting wing by Tuscan quadrant porch of 1819 by Hakewill. 4- and 2-window ranges to right in Jacobean style by H. Goddard of 1842 have 2- and 3-light stone mullions with transoms. The inner courtyard has been encroached upon by C19 additions. Interior: Entrance hall to entrance facade leads to the vestibule which passes through 2 storeys having a gallery on 2 sides with C18 turned balustrade. Doorcase has fluted Corinthian columns. Dining Room to left of entrance to c1861 replaced the great hall. Library to right of entrance c1734 by Francis Smith has marble fireplace and fluted Corinthian pilasters of 1734 and bookcases by Hakewill of 1819. Staircase by the Smiths has 2 turned balustrades to each tread which have carved ends. Originally double flight the landing balustrade incorporates carved panels from Webb's earlier staircase. Rococo ceiling by J. Woolstone. Armorial glass from Pytchley Old Hall. Oak Room to right of staircase entered through triple arcade has Jacobean panelling reset from elsewhere in 1907. Music Room centre of main front double height by Webb; retains fireplace and overmantel by Webb and bolection panelling by Henry Jones of c1685. Room decorated by the Smiths in 1738 with plasterwork by J. Woolstone. Deep clerestory frieze has profiles of busts in oval frames alternating with trophies relating to the Isham family with inscriptions below. Flat coving plaster ceiling has 3 relief panels with cherubs, mermaids, swans and foliage. Fine wood block floor. Cabinet Room to right of Music Room by W. Smith 1742 has simple plaster ceiling with circular panels. Drawing Room in centre of the garden front c1840 has Rococo marble fireplace, panelled walls and plaster cornice. Gothic Room to left of the Drawing Room is panelled and has marble fireplace. First floor landing has triple arcade to staircase. Several first floor rooms have fielded panelling and bolection moulded fire surrounds. C18 and C19 service stairs have turned balusters. The evolution of this house is well documented in the Isham family records. (Country Life, October 3rd, 1952, p.1022-1025, September, 26th, 1952, p.932-935, October 10th, 1952, p.1106-1104; Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.268).

{3} Finds of architectural fragments from a substantial structure were found during mid C18th building work.

{5} Architectural fragments from substantial structure found during building work in the mid C18th.

{6} Late C16th or early C17th country house.

{7} Sir Justinian Isham, the present possessor of Lamport manor and all the lordship hath here a very elegant seat, part of which is old and part new built in his father's time, by Jn Webb, son-in-law to Indigo Jones.

{10} Two undated photos, also two photos dated September 1982, also a photo of a brick arch dated 19.11.1992, also three photos of the same date showing sections of wall;

{11} Drawing of Lamport of 1721 shows enclosed gardens bounded by terraces on the south-west side of the house in front of Webb's building.

{12} During 1940 the War Office greatly expanded the numbers of country houses which it occupied in all parts of the country. In the face of the threat of invasion there was a large build-up of the British Army with the training of new recruits and the formation of new regiments and battalions. In 1941 there were over two million troops (British and Colonial) based in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, many of them in country houses. To take random examples…the 11th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment was at Haselbaech House in Northamptonshire… a company was also billeted in Lamport Hall, the house of the Ishams.

{20} Lamport was purchased by John and Robert Isham in 1560. John Isham built a manor house, possibly on the site of the earlier manor, in 1568, but of this little remains today except in interior walls and part of the stables block. In 1654 a new suite of rooms was added and in 1655 John Webb built a miniature Italian palazzo. The library block and a wing on the S. side were added in 1732 and 1740 respectively. Also 19th cent. Additions.

{21} For photographs of S.W. and N.W. fronts of Lamport Hall see AO/62/143 1nd 4 respectively.

{26} Sketch and measurements of cas crom, or foot plough, in possession of Sir Charles Isham, drawn by Henry Dryden in October 1888;

{27} Photo dated June 1962;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 10/80 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Lamport Hall: Information Sheet 1, (unchecked) (Draft). SNN47919.

<4> Jenkins S., 2003, England's Thousand Best Houses, p.547 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104722.

<5> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.256 (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<6> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.118 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.110 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> Redpath F., 2002, The Ladies of Lamport, p.7-17 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102624.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Lamport (Photographs). SNN112588.

<11> BS ADD MAN 32 467. F149, (unchecked) (Document). SNN48702.

<12> ROBINSON J.M., 1989, The Country House At War, 135+ (unchecked) (Book). SNN48506.

<13> Site Guide, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN59126.

<14> 1952, Country Life (1952), p.932-935 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56933.

<15> 1952, Country Life (1952), p.1022-1025 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106707.

<16> 1952, Country Life (1952), p.1106-1104 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN106710.

<17> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<18> Way T., 2009, Garden Gnomes: A History, p.10+19-23 (unchecked) (Series). SNN106617.

<19> Redpath F., 2002, The Ladies of Lamport, p.7-17 (unchecked) (Article). SNN102624.

<20> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), p. 206 (Sir Gyles Isham) (Journal). SNN59424.

<21> Quinnell, N V, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 NVQ 22-AUG-1962 (Note). SNN114729.

<22> Gotch J.A., 1936, The Old Halls and Manor Houses of Northamptonshire (Book). SNN44101.

<23> Historic England, Lamport Hall, Lamport, BF061878 (Archive). SNN114730.

<24> Historic England, NMR Measured Drawings (Drawing). SNN113008.

<25> Historic England, Lamport Hall, Lamport (plans) (Archive). SNN114731.

<26> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/170/2 (Archive). SNN115.

<27> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Feb 12 2025 10:51AM