Building record 459/2/1 - Fawsley Hall

Early 16th century country house, possibly incorporating parts of an older building. A new upper range was added in 1732 and attributed to Francis Smith. The south-east range was demolished between 1793-1815. Remodelling took place by Thomas Cundy in 1815 and again by Anthony Salvin in the mid 19th century and between 1867-1868. It is constructed of coursed squared ironstone with limestone dressings and a tiled roof. The house was rescued from dereliction in the second half of the 20th century.

{1} Country house. Early C16, north range of 1732 attributed to Francis Smith, remodelled by Thomas Cundy 1815 and again by Anthony Salvin mid C19, when raised, and south-east wing of 1867-8 by Salvin. Coursed squared ironstone with limestone dressings, tiled roof, and brick ridge, lateral and end stacks. Courtyard plan partially open to north. Great Hall: 5-window range includes tall 2-storey bay window right of centre, half octagonal in plan, mullion and transom Tudor-arched windows with tracery heads with miniature buttresses and brattishing to transoms, continued above eaves as complete octagon with 2-light arch-mullion windows, coat of arms with hood mould below central window and battlemented parapet left of bay window. 3-light arch-mullion windows set high in wall and divided by offset buttresses, one similar window to right. Similar windows to rear divided by buttresses, large rear lateral stack of dressed ironstone finished with C19 brick and fine service door with moulded Tudor arch and carved spandrels. To left and right of hall range large C19 Tudor style wings with grey sandstone dressings. Surviving part of early C16 kitchen range to south of 2 and 3 storeys with gabled old tile roofs, brick lateral and ridge stacks. Irregular fenestration with 1, 2 and 3-light arch-mullion windows. Chamfered Tudor-arch door to left with hood mould, slightly later C16 projecting wing to right with similar windows and fine 2-storey oriel with battlemented parapet flanked by offset buttresses and large lateral stack on corbels to right side; further 3-storey gabled bay with similar 1 and 3-light arch mullion windows and door to right. To courtyard similar 2-light windows and moulded Tudor-arch doorway with C16/C17 plank door. Early C16 Brewhouse range to west has irregular 5-window range of similar 2 and 3-light windows and similar central chamfered doorway; overlight above with chamfered stone surround with 3-light wood mullion window. Large rear lateral stack to courtyard with C18 brick flue. North gable wall has fine first floor oriel with arch-mullion and transom lights and side pieces of 2 similar lights. 1-light arch mullion window in gable above and similar 2-light window below left of centre. Interior: Great Hall has impressive stone fireplace with quatrefoil frieze, a foliage frieze above and castellated cresting; blocked window above. Bay window has panelled jambs and a fan vault with big Tudor Rose central boss. Kitchens have huge hollow chamfered fireplaces back-to-back, passage ends resting on round pillars with octagonal bases with chamfered 4-centred arches to passage, stone bread cupboards, stone-flagged floors. In kitchen wing, rooms with moulded and chamfered cross-beamed ceilings to ground and first floors with 4-centred arch fireplaces, a large second floor room with arched brace collar truss roof and adjacent parlour with barrel-vaulted ceiling with thin quatred moulded beams. Room behind oriel adjoining to south has similar barrel-vaulted ceiling, huge moulded cornice, close-studded west wall and 4-centred moulded arch fireplace. Recently installed and re-arranged a mid C17 staircase from Ashley Park, Surrey (dem). Salvin wings weatherproof but gutted, south-east wing retaining portions of Elizabethan style plaster ceilings to ground floor state rooms. Fawsley Hall was first built in early C16 in various stages, chiefly by Sir Edmund Knightley. Seat of the Knightleys till World War II. It became a timber factory in 1960's, at which time the Great Hall lost its original roof. Kitchen and Brewhouse ranges recently restored by present owner. (Buildings of England: Northants, p.214-215; Country Life: July 1908).

{10} Analysis of the roof structure of the west 'Tudor Wing', was undertaken in 2017 in advance of a listed building application. The survey found that the majority of the key components of the existing roof structure are consistent with a single phase of construction and are in situ. The key original components are trusses (composed of cranked collar and tile beam); ridge purlin and two tiers of trenched purlins; and common rafters, orientated flatways. The south-west side of the roof is more complete than the north-east side. The roof has undergone two disctinct phases of repair: in the 19th century and in the 1970s.


{11} Mr Knightley a man of great lands hath his principal house, no sumptious thing.

{15} Undated photo;

{16} See photographs. Fawsley Hall is now owned by the OVER TIMBER CO FAWSLEY. It is in a state of disrepair and dangerous. Outstanding.

{17} No change to field report of 12.2.70.

{18} Fawsley Hall. In good repair at time of revision, some renovating still ongoing. The buildings are a complicated complex but all appear to be inhabited.

{27} The heraldic glass formerly in the great hall and dating mainly from the time of Sir Edmund Knightley (died 1542) is now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow. [Replicas of the originals are now present at Fawsley Hall]

{28} Drawings of monuments: shields, inscriptions, measurements, plans, tracings, notes, newspaper cuttings, sketches, poem, pedigree, coats of arms, family trees, prints, paintings, photos, rubbings, Seal of Hundred of Fawsley;

{29} Fourteen photos dated 23rd January 1971;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/80 (unchecked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F05 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.211 (unchecked) (Book). SNN41757.

<4> 1991, Fawsley Hall, (unchecked) (Map). SNN58005.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1811-9, First Edition Ordnance Survey Surveyors Drawings, (unchecked) (Map). SNN104902.

<6> Jenkins S., 2003, England's Thousand Best Houses, p.542 (unchecked) (Extract). SNN104722.

<7> RCHME, 1996, Fawsley Hall, Fawsley, (checked) (Draft). SNN72535.

<8> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.214-215 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<9> 1908, Country Life (04/07/1908), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN9100.

<10> Wilson, M., 2017, Historic building appraisal: The roof structure of The Tudor Wing, Fawsley Hall Hotel, Fawsley, Northamptonshire, 2017 (Report). SNN111654.

<11> Leland J., 1543, Itinerary, (unchecked) (Series). SNN13988.

<12> Wilson R., 1993, A Brief History of Fawsley Church and Park, (unchecked) (Booklet). SNN57145.

<13> Mowl T.; Hickman C., 2008, The Historic Gardens of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN106082.

<14> Gordan P. (Editor), 1999, Politics And Society: The Journals of Lady Knightley of Fawsley 1885 to 1913, (unchecked) (Book). SNN100002.

<15> Photographs of buildings in Fawsley (Photographs). SNN111722.

<16> Baird, J., 1970, Field investigators comments, F1 JB 12-FEB-70 (Notes). SNN110341.

<17> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F2 CDA 29-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<18> ORAL REPORT, Large Scale / Small Scale Map Revisers Comment: SS Reviser Sept 1989 (Oral Report). SNN53287.

<19> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/221: Overlay to a cutaway isometric drawing of Fawsley Hall, showing the ground-floor (Archive). SNN114067.

<20> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/219: Overlay to a cutaway isometric drawing of Fawsley Hall, showing the top-floor (Archive). SNN114067.

<21> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/100: Labelled plan of the second-floor of Fawsley Hall (Archive). SNN114067.

<22> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/099: Labelled plan of the ground-floor of Fawsley Hall (Archive). SNN114067.

<23> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/098: Labelled plan of the first-floor of Fawsley Hall (Archive). SNN114067.

<24> Historic England, Undated, Fawsley Hall, Fawsley, BF061868 (Archive). SNN114066.

<25> RCHME, Undated, Country Houses of Northamptonshire, RCH01/082/01/222: Labelled cutaway isometric drawing of Fawsley Hall (Archive). SNN114067.

<26> Historic England, NMR Measured Drawings, NMR06 (Drawing). SNN113008.

<27> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 64 (Book). SNN101533.

<28> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/111/1-115, 181-320 (Archive). SNN115.

<29> Miss June Swann, 1960s- 70s, Miss June Swann Photographic Archive (Photographs). SNN116665.

Record last edited

Jan 22 2025 2:38PM