Building record 2659/0/7 - Haunt Hill House, Kettering Road

House with datestones of 1636 and 1643. Probably built by Humphrey Frisby, a master-mason.

{1} House. Datestones 1636 and 1643. Limestone ashlar with Collyweston slate roof. Originally 2 unit lobby entry plan. 2 storeys. 2-window range of 3- and 4-light stone mullion and transom windows, those at ground floor have a heavy centre mullion, those at first floor are under Lincolnshire eaves dormers. Central gabled porch has ogee-head door opening with C20 door. Small 2-light stone mullion window above porch. Ashlar gable parapets and kneelers and long ashlar stack at ridge has 4 flues linked by a frieze with moulded cornices. Left gable has stone mullion windows, that to first floor has a stepped head; both are flanked by carved volutes. Datestone in apex. Rear similar with central gable, stone mullion windows and small stair windows. C20 single-storey extension to right of main front. Interior: rear wall of entrance lobby has pair of blank arcades with datestone. Room to left has large C17 fireplace with 4-centre moulded stone head with moulded frieze and cornice above. The frieze and cornice break forward at either side of fireplace and the frieze is decorated with vertical grooves. Door opening to right has 4-centre moulded stone head and is incorporated into the fireplace surround. Room to right of lobby has similar fireplace and door opening to kitchen in opposite wall has 4-centred moulded stone head. 2 first floor rooms also said to have similar fireplaces.

{3} House probably built by Humphrey Frisbey, a master-mason who worked the quarries at Weldon in the 17th century. The arms of the Masons Company are displayed in the south gable and over the porch. Inside there are chimney pieces with flattened four-centred arches surmounted by a fluted frieze of a kind which occurs in Serlio and is found at Kirby Hall.

{4} Detailed building description and development.

{5} [former list description] Dated 1636 and 1643. A small symmetrical limestone house of two storeys and attic, steep pitched roof of Colley Weston slates, high verges with carved kneelers and ball finials. Large central quadruple chimney stack with a continuous cornice and incised with the date 1643 on each side. There is an eaves cornice which continues across the gable ends. The East front has two 6-light mullioned and transomed windows to the second storey and two 8-light mullioned and transomed windows to the ground floor. There are drip moulds over the ground floor windows. The doorway with moulded four centre arch head is enclosed by a small gabled porch above which is a small 2-light semi-circular headed window. Inside the porch is the date 1636. The South gable end has a 3-light window to the attic and a 6-and 8-light window to the second and first storeys respectively.

There are carved scrolls and shields on both sides of the ground and second storey windows, and above the second storey window. Enclosed in an architrave formed by stepping-up the continuous cornice, is the date stone which consists of a shield upon which is carved three castles and H 1643 E. There is a modern one-storey extension to the North end, (in stone). The West or garden front has a large dormer gable and mullioned and transomed windows similar to those on the East front. Interior: there are only two rooms on both the main floors, a stone stairway, large open fireplaces, four centre arch and heavy carved mantelpieces reaching to the ceiling. All the doorheads are carved, some four centre arch, others heavy cornice.

{6} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/196 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1992, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), K06 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN46686.

<3> Colvin, H M, 1961, Haunt Hill House, Weldon, p. 223-228 (Chapter). SNN110492.

<4> Corby Borough Council, 2009, Conservation Area Appraisal: Weldon, Main report and appendices (Report). SNN111967.

<5> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR)Dist of Kettering R.D, Northants Feb.1950 41 (Report). SNN112993.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Weldon (Photographs). SNN113888.

Record last edited

Aug 31 2022 10:19AM