Building record 889/2/1 - The Hall, Brockhall

Country house dating from the early 17th century. Remodelled circa 1800 in Gothic style. Re-windowed in 1912 in Jacobean style.

{1} Country house. Early C17th, remodelled c.1800 in Gothick manner by owner Thomas Reeve Thornton; park front re-windowed 1912 in Jacobean style by firm of Law and Harris. Ironstone ashlar, lead roofs, stone internal stacks. H-plan originally, made double-depth in later alterations. 3 storeys. 5-window entrance front has recessed centre between bay windows in angles and single-bay wings. Central 6-panel double-leaf door in moulded stone architrave with plain frieze and cornice on tapering pendant suppports - probably C18 in Jacobean style - flanked by 2-light leaded arched stone mullion and transom windows. Similar windows to sides of bays either side which have similar 4-light windows to front; similar 4-light windows to ground floor of projecting wings. Similar tiers of windows without transoms to first and second floors, diminishing in height. Plinth, string courses above window heads and below plain stone coped parapets. Parapets truncated slightly raised over wings and recessed centre, with bases of truncated pinnacles. 4-window park front to left side has similar 3-light windows set in slight projections. Rear elevation retains its Gothick pointed arched windows and has small pointed arched door to right below large 2-light window cutting across first floor string course and lighting staircase. Transom and Y-tracery. Groups of 3-pointed arched Gothick sash windows to projecting bay to right and to 2-storey wing at right angles to left end with C19 single-storey billiard room extension. 4-window right side elevation to churchyard has irregular fenestration of 2-, 3- and 4-light stone mullion windows, those to first and second floors with hood moulds and projecting staircase tower. Interior: one ground floor room has C17 panelling assembled from other parts of house, interiors otherwise mostly C18, including Dining Room with Gothick plasterwork frieze on miniature corbels. The Staircase Hall has neo-classical stucco ceiling and flying staircase with iron balustrade with unusual plant like forms and ramped mahogany handrail; an identical balustrade designed 1801 by John Patersson of Edinburgh for Francis Sitwell is to be found at Barmoor Castle, Northumberland. Drawing Room plaster ceiling in Adam style of 1889 by C. Wood. Secondary staircase in tower with late C17 or early C18 turned balusters; probably original principal staircase. Seat of the Thorntons from 1625 until purchased in recent times by the present owner. Thomas Reeve Thornton who carried out alterations c.1800 appears to have acted as his own architect. He also landscaped the grounds with the advice of a Mr. Webb.

{2} Early C17th country house; remodelled c.1800 in Gothick manner by owner Thomas Reeve Thornton; ironstone ashlar with lead roofs; originally H-plan;

{5} Façade of house before Thomas Reeve Thornton's alterations;

{6} Existing house built soon after 1625 when Thornton family acquired manor; building of hall may have led o removal of earlier buildings south-east of church but no direct evidence of this;

{7} Engraving of house c.1800;

{8} ".considerably altered and improved by the present possessor.".

{11} Manor bought in 1581/2 by Laurence Eyton of Norton. His son Edward inherited in 1607 and must have built present hall before 1625 when it was sold to Thomas Thornton of Newnham. The latter devoted himself to building up the estate. The family never rose above the gentry however. The estate remained with the Thorntons until the second half of C20th. Impressive Elizabethan south front; half H-shape; part of house was tower; north front is late C18th Gothick; west front has same character but adjusted c.1900 to fit Elizabethan facades; Gothick alterations designed by owner Thomas Reeve Thornton;

{14} An archaeological buildings survey was carried out during the conversion of the Grade II* listed Brockhall Hall into self contained flats. The work recorded elements dating from the 17th century origins of the building together with a major re-modelling in 1799 and later 19th century alterations.

{15} Undated photo;

{18} The Seat of the Thorntons from 1625 until purchased in recent times by present owner. It was Thomas Reeve Thornton who carried out alterations c.1800 and he appears to have acted as his own architect. He also landscaped grounds with the advice of Mr Webb.

{21} Estate came in 1625 to Thornton family who built the mansion.

{22} Sales information produced by Strutt and Parker published in Country Life."A fine country house with Elizabethan origins Listed Grade 2.

{23} House was originally built by Edward Eyton c.1610-20. TheThornton family acquired estate in 1625. Thomas Reeve Thornton inherited in 1799 and carried out many alterations.

{24} Short newspaper article which refers to the hall at Brockhall having been used during WWII for espionage training involving overseas nationals.

{32} Residence of Mr Thornton Lord of Manor. Is supposed to have been built by family of Eyton.

{33} Early 17th century 3 storey stone house its main feature being the little altered south front which shows a central block with projecting wings and having subsidiary projections in the angles. The existing parapets should be regarded probably as a restoration of the 18th century. There was formerly a courtyard in the front of the main (south) entrance flanked by wing-walls terminating in pavilions. Late in the 18th century the rear and side elevations of the house were 'Gothicised.'

{34} 'The Hall' is as described above except that only the rear of the house has been 'Gothicised'. The structure is in good condition. See GP. AO/AO/62/75/2 from the south east of the south front.

{35} No change.

{37} Building recording undertaken by RCHME(?).

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/40 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F06 p.20 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.127-8 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> 1637, PRO PROB 11/162, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56238.

<5> Tillemans P., 1721, Front of Mr Thorntons House at Brockhole, (unchecked) (Drawing). SNN41761.

<6> Colvin H., 1995, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects (1660-1840), p.624 (unchecked) (Book). SNN54451.

<7> Unknown, 1800, Engraving of The Hall, Brockhall, (unchecked) (Print). SNN41764.

<8> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<9> 1998, Buildings At Risk Survey, p.42 (checked) (Report). SNN43352.

<10> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1981, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.33 (checked) (Series). SNN77381.

<11> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.109-11 (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<12> CORNFORTH J., 1964, Brockhall, Northamptonshire, Nov.26th p.1428-32 (unchecked) (Article). SNN60065.

<13> 1965, Country Life (1965), Jan.7th (unchecked) (Article). SNN56237.

<14> Upson - Smith T.; Soden I., 2000, Archaeological Buildings Recording At Brockhall Hall, Northamptonshire, 2000 (Report). SNN100567.

<15> Photographs of buildings in Brockhall (Photographs). SNN112149.

<16> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2489, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54719.

<17> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2490, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56213.

<18> 1997, Chronicle and Echo, (unchecked) (Article). SNN45873.

<19> Allison K.J.; Beresford M.W.; Hurst J.G. et al, 1966, The Deserted Villages of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN39628.

<20> Colvin H., 1995, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects (1660-1840), p.624 (unchecked) (Book). SNN54451.

<21> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<22> 1993, Country Life (1993), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN46123.

<23> Bailey B.A., 1996, Northamptonshire in the Early Eighteenth Century: The Drawings of Peter Tillemans & Others, p.35 (checked) (Series). SNN41766.

<24> Thornton Papers, (unchecked) (Document). SNN60067.

<25> MARKHAM C.A., 1923, Brockhall, Northamptonshire, p.77-81 (unchecked) (Series). SNN56243.

<26> Gotch J.A., 1936, The Old Halls and Manor Houses of Northamptonshire, p.32 (unchecked) (Book). SNN44101.

<27> HARRIS J., 1979, Artist and The Country House, p.231 (unchecked) (Book). SNN60066.

<28> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.482-83 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<29> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.112-19 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<30> 1799, Estate Map, (unchecked) (Map). SNN56244.

<31> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2046, (unchecked) (Document). SNN56211.

<32> 1800, Estate Accounts TH 2051, (unchecked) (Document). SNN54907.

<33> 1953, The Archaeological Journal (110), p. 188 (Journal). SNN59424.

<34> Phillips, AS, 1962, Field Investigators Comments, F1 ASP 30-APR-62 (Note). SNN112960.

<35> Seaman, BH, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 BHS 12-FEB-69 (Notes). SNN111907.

<36> Historic England, THE HALL, BROCKHALL (Archive). SNN115090.

<37> Historic England, Undated, BROCKHALL, BROCKHALL, BF061850 (Archive). SNN116546.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 11:45AM