Building record 1156/2/8 - Summerhouse c.250m. North-East of Ecton Hall

Summerhouse located 250 metres north east of Ecton Hall. Probably built mid 18th century. 2 storey and oval in plan.

{1} Summerhouse. Possibly late C17th, but probably mid C18th and by Sanderson Miller. Squared coursed lias with ashlar dressings probably with lead roof (not visible). Oval plan. 2 storeys. Open arcade at ground floor supported on 2 Tuscan columns with similar pilasters. Rear at ground floor has oculus with plain stone surround and keyblocks flanked by Tuscan pilasters. Frieze between floors has cornice above. First floor has 3 windows with leaded casements and moulded and eared architraves flanked by pilasters with Corinthian capitals. Similar first floor door opening with curved door has flight of stone steps with moulded stone parapet. Alternate first floor openings have laurel garlands to architraves and others have oak leaf decoration in frieze above. Dentilled and moulded stone cornices. Flat roof with lead spout projecting from window head. Interior: ground floor has oval stone table with central column support and wooden benching with panelled back. Similar benching to first floor room . All windows have shutters. A similar summerhouse, designed by Sanderson Miller, is in the grounds of Farnborough Hall, Warwickshire.

{2} (SP 83106380 - Summer house approximated from authy.1 description.) 2467 ECTON ECTON Church Way Summerhouse ca.250m NE of Ecton Hall SP 86 SW 8/54A 28.5.54. II* GV 2. C17. Popularly attributed to Inigo Jones. Built of sandstone, 2 storeys, elliptical in form, with a flat roof. It has an external stone stairway to the 1st floor. Part of the 1st storey is open having 2 columns and 2 half columns and above is a continuous entablature with triglyph frieze. The 2nd storey has 4 pairs of pilasters each flanking an opening: 3 windows with moulded and cared architrave (see J A Gotch "Squires Homes and other old houses in Northamptonshire").

{3} To the north-east, the summerhouse, probably built in the 1630's; classical, built on an oval plan.

{4} View with staircase to left hand side.

{5} Cole says that the gazebo/summer house was from a design by Inigo Jones (1573-1652). On architectural style Pevsner suggests a date of circa 1630. If the design was C17th it was certainly not built until the C18th, for it is not depicted on the 1703 map, but appears for the first time on the 1730s/40s. The earliest reference to the gazebo is in 1743.
The house also had a view north-eastward through the grove to the gazebo. The views were clearly designed and new plantings established to avoid the visual intrusion of the main village and of Little Ecton.

{8} In one of the flower gardens is a summer house from a design by the celebrated Inigo Jones.

{9} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/67 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1986, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100394.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.207 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> CLARKE G., 1850, Summerhouse in Ecton Hall Grounds, 27 (checked) (Drawing). SNN46351.

<5> Foard G., 1993, Ecton: Its Lost Village and Landscape Park, p.341-2+Pl.4+Fig 2c (checked) (Article). SNN54811.

<6> Fuller J., 1740 (circa), Bird's Eye View of Ecton Hall and Gardens (NRO Map 2162), (unchecked) (Plan). SNN46086.

<7> 1743, Useful Memorandums Relating to My Estates, p.9 (unchecked) (Memorandum). SNN108781.

<8> Cole J., 1825, The History and Antiquities of Ecton, p.42 (unchecked) (Book). SNN47349.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Ecton (Photographs). SNN111810.

<10> Historic England, Undated, ECTON HALL, ECTON, BF061866 (Archive). SNN115818.

Record last edited

Jun 10 2024 11:26AM