Building record 1244/5/1 - Cosgrove Hall & Attached Office Wing

Early 18th-century hall probably by John Lumley of Northampton. The hall was badly damaged by fire in 2016.

{1} Country house. Early C18 with C19 and C20 alterations. Limestone ashlar, hipped slate roof and stone internal stacks. H plan. 2 storeys and attic; 7-window range. 3-bay recessed centre of entrance front has been filled by projecting 2-storey extension with flat roof behind stone-coped parapet; probably early C19. Central single-storey porch with panelled double-leaf doors and overlight flanked by Doric pilasters bearing simple entablature; moulded stone cornice and blocking cornice. 12-pane sash windows to ground and 1st floors with moulded stone sills and surrounds with keyblocks. Wave-moulded plinth, Corinthian pilasters in two orders defining bays, and deep coved and moulded wood and plaster eaves. 4 straight-headed roof dormers. 3-bay right side elevation and garden front have similar windows and Doric pilasters. Both elevations have central glazed garden doors with moulded stone surrounds. Recessed centre of garden front formerly had pediment to central bay. 2-storey double-depth service wing projects at left end of entrance front. Of coursed squared limestone with 2-span hipped plain tile roof and brick lateral and internal stacks. Mid/late C18. Irregular glazing with 12-pane sashes to right side, facing forecourt otherwise 1- and 2-light casement windows, all with wood lintels. Interior: open-well staircase with column-on-vase balusters, 3 to each tread and spiral fluting to vase, carved tread ends and mahogany ramped handrail. Reeded wood door surrounds. Modillion plaster cornices. C18 marble chimneypieces, probably brought in at later date, C16 stone fireplace to garden hall, also brought-in, with Tudor arched head, carved spandrels and brattishing. Late C16 or early C17 panelling and overmantel in upper room of service wing (brought-in). (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: 1973, p159; Wolverton Historical Journal 1970, pp34-40)

{5} Undated photo; and undated photo from different angle;


{6} Cosgrove Hall s of Major Mansel was Longvilles mansion, much altered and improved by present posessor.

{7} Cosgrove Hall - early 18th century.

{8} Originally a half H-plan, attributed to John Lumley of Northampton. The interior was much altered soon after 1800.

{9} The Sir John Soane Museum holds a series of drawings for an house for Mr Mansel, but it is not known whether they were to replace the early 18th century hall or for a new house on another site.

{10} Cosgrove Hall was badly damaged by fire in October 2016.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 16/12 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F11 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.159 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> MYNARD D.C., 1970, Wolverton Historical Journal, p.34-40 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN19512.

<5> Various, Various, Photographs of buildings in Cosgrove (Photographs). SNN111598.

<6> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<7> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.159 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<8> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 192 (Book). SNN111989.

<9> Sir John Soane's Museum London, Sir John Soane's Museum Collection Online, https://collections.soane.org/ARC1180 [Accessed 17/05/2024] (Website). SNN116355.

<10> BBC, BBC News, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-northamptonshire-37733028 (Website). SNN116357.

Record last edited

May 17 2024 1:04PM