Building record 4032/2/1 - Great Oakley Hall and attached gazebo

Medieval manor house built circa 1555 probably on site of an earlier house. One of the earliest examples of a simple manor house. It has been modernized with 17th and 18th century additions but without altering its appearance. There is an 1893 datestone which refers to the rebuilding of the south wing.

{1} Country house. c.1555 with C17 and C18 additions, datestone 1893 refers to rebuilding of south wing. Limestone ashlar, part rendered, with slate roof laid to diminishing courses. Irregular U-shape plan. 2 storeys with attic. Main front: centre of 5-window range with flanking gabled wings breaking forward. Central single-storey porch is probably early C17 with arch-head opening with keyblocks. Flanking pairs of reeded pilasters supporting frieze and cornice with balustrade above, consisting of 4 roundels. C19 part-glazed door. 4-light stone mullion windows with arch-head lights with exception of 2 attic windows to left which are 3-light. Small gables above each attic window have semi-circular merlons between. Projecting gable to left has 2-window range in gable end of 2-light stone mullion windows with arch-head lights and one similar window to attic. C19 right-hand wing in similar style of one-window range in gable end. Return walls of wings in 2-window range of similar 3-light windows. Centre range breaks forward, slightly, to left of porch and wall to right of break is rendered. All windows have drip moulds. Ashlar gable parapets and finials and ashlar stacks at ridge. Garden front to right of main front is C19 five-window range of 2-, 4- and 8-light stone mullion windows with transoms and arch head lights. Gables and eaves parapet and double string course between floors. Lateral stack set in gable has arms of Bishop Trollope. Datestone in right gable. Rear elevation to right is similar. Small C18 extension to right with sash windows under gauged stone lintels also appears to rear left of main front with wood mullion window, under gauged stone head, and a 6-panel door. C18 gazebo, now garden room and apple store is linked to left of main front by outbuildings and wall. Rusticated ashlar. 2 storeys. One-window range with sash window with glazing bars at first floor and ground floor door opening with bolection moulded surround, panelled frieze and cornice over. Elevation to right is similar of 2 window range. Slate roof with plain parapet. C19 building attached to rear was originally a laundry. Interior: hall has ornamental date 1575. Staircase remodelled C19 retains some earlier balusters and 2 ceilings with C18 Rococo plasterwork. Carved door surrounds and panelling are mainly late C19 probably reusing sane earlier work. The house was built on the site of an earlier house fur the de Capell Brooke family who have retained ownership. The work of 1893 and interior remodelling of that date was carried out by Bishop Trollope. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.236).

{3} "Great Oakley House .."; view of building with church shown on left hand side. "Oakley Hall"; appears on index but no sketch found in vol.17.

{4} A good manor house built of stone in 1555. Wheeler Brook Esq, present Lord of the Manor. Brooke mentioned II Henry VII.

{5} William Brooke of Astwell acquired one of the manors in the parish of Great Oakley in 1472, and the other was bought by his grandson Thomas in 1546. Members of the family served as sheriff in 1576 and 1616, but they remained minor gentry until Richard de Capell Brooke (1758-1829) was created baronet in 1803. The house is still owned by the Brooke family.

{6} Rough sketch of 1802 of park and house. Several rooms in ground floor of hall labelled.

{7} Undated photo;

{9} A level II building recording survey was undertaken of the 18th-century gazebo and attached 19th-century laundry prior to renovation and alteration. At the time of the survey, the gazebo was in partial use although the wooden stairs leading up to the first floor ahd collapsed. The eastern part of the 19th-century laundry was being used as a garden workshop and store. A cellar extends beneath the 18th-century structure continuing to the east beneath the garden.

{12} Great Oakley Hall was built circa 1555 probably on site of earlier house and is one of the earliest examples of a simple manor house. It has been modernized but without altering its appearance.

{13} G.P. AO/61/142/3 West front of Hall.
G.P. AO.61/142/4 South face of Hall.

{14} No change.

{15} SP 8714 8589: Oakley Hall [G.T.]

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 7/5 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> CLARKE G., 1850, Pencil Sketches, No.79 (checked) (Drawing). SNN46359.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.325 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.229 (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<6> W C, 1802, Design for Great Oakley House and Grounds (Plan). SNN110730.

<7> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Corby (Photographs). SNN111596.

<8> 1744, Map of Great Oakley (Map). SNN30144.

<9> Hyam A., 2019, A Level 2 Historic Building Survey at The Garden Room (gazebo), Great Oakley Hall, Church Drive, Great Oakley, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN111855.

<10> Crank, N. (Editor), 2020, South Midlands Archaeology (50), p. 94 (Journal). SNN112426.

<11> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.236 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<12> Gotch J.A., 1936, The Old Halls and Manor Houses of Northamptonshire, p. 34-6 (Book). SNN44101.

<13> Colquhoun, FD, 1961, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 25-AUG-1961 (Notes). SNN113017.

<14> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F2 FDC 05-AUG-1969 (Notes). SNN112950.

<15> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<16> Historic England, Undated, Great Oakley Hall, Corby, BF061872 (Archive). SNN113248.

<17> Historic England, Undated, Exterior view of the west elevation of Great Oakley Hall, BB84/02413 (Archive). SNN113249.

<18> Historic England, Undated, OAKLEY HALL FROM THE NORTH WEST, OS61/F142/3 (Archive). SNN113250.

<19> Historic England, Undated, OAKLEY HALL FROM THE SOUTH EAST, OS61/F142/4 (Archive). SNN113251.

<20> Historic England, Undated, Labelled elevations of Great Oakley Hall, Corby, RCH01/082/01/103-4 (Archive). SNN113252.

<21> Historic England, Undated, Labelled plan of the ground-floor of Great Oakley Hall, Corby, RCH01/082/01/105 (Archive). SNN113253.

<22> Historic England, Undated, Overlay to a plan of Great Oakley Hall, Corby, showing building phase III, RCH01/082/01/106 (Archive). SNN113254.

<23> Historic England, Undated, Overlay to a plan of Great Oakley Hall, Corby, showing building phase II, RCH01/082/01/107 (Archive). SNN113255.

<24> Historic England, Undated, Amended copy of a plan of the ground-floor of Great Oakley Hall, Corby, RCH01/082/01/108 (Archive). SNN113256.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 11:45AM