Building record 4588/2/2 - Boughton Hall (C19th & Later)

Boughton Hall country house constructed in 1844 by William Burn for the Howard-Vyse's, in Tudor-Gothic style on the site of an earlier house which was documented in the 1690s but demolished by 1844. The Hall is located within a grade II registered park and garden. The Boughton estate dates back to the thirteenth century. The manor was the seat of the Baron Vaux's until being purchased by John Briscoe in 1685. Briscoe is thought to have pulled down some of the original hall and to have laid out the designed landscape. The estate was sold to Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stafford in 1717. Drawings of the hall in 1720 and 1785 indicate Elizabethan alterations to an earlier core. By the later eighteenth century the hall was set within a large designed landsape comprising pleasure gardens, formal planting and a lake. A number of Gothic additions were made to the house and grounds including the gateway lodge and grotto. In the early nineteenth century the estate owners, the Howard-Vyse family demolished the original house and built a new hall in 1844 designed by William Burn. The house is in Tudor-Gothic style constructed of coursed local stone with slate covered gable roofs and ridge and end stacks. It is approximately L shaped in plan of two storys with an attic and service wing. There are deeply recessed Elizabethan style mullion and transom windows with stone surrounds throughout. Internally Burn's plan remains largely intact. There service wing contains a range of rooms on either side of a corridor; there are no historic fixture and fittings of interest. Between 1896 and 1927 the hall was leased after which it was sold to F W Panther Esq. A fire during the 1920s is said to have damaged the servants wing interior and back stairs. The estate was sold again in 1964 and has had been sold on and subdivided into two units since then. The stable and coach houses have also been subdivided.

Country house, 1844 by William Burn for the Howard-Vyse's, in Tudor-Gothic style.
MATERIALS
Constructed of randomly coursed local stone with slate-covered gable roofs and ridge and end stacks rebuilt in gault brick.
DESCRIPTION
Approximately 'L' shaped in plan, the polite range is of two storeys with an attic and the service wing, arranged in two gables, is of two storeys with a cellar. There are deeply recessed Elizabethan-style mullion and transom windows of mostly two or three lights with stone surrounds throughout, some with drip-mouldings above. The fenestration in the main range comprises single lights or two pane sash windows and those in the service wing and attic have sashes with 4-over-4 lights with glazing bars.
The principal elevation of the polite range faces to the south-west and has two full-height projecting bays to the right and left, the latter with a ground floor bay window. Each projecting bay has coped pediments adorned with finials and there are two similarly detailed central dormers with gablets. The north-west elevation focuses on the full-height entrance lobby beneath a hipped roof. It is positioned in the angle between the front range and stair tower and has the ensuite bathroom for one of the principle bedrooms at first floor. A small porch beneath a gablet projects from the lobby, approached by a flight of stone steps framed by low walls.; the four-centred arched entrance has decorated spandrels and drip moulding above. Beneath the coped gablet, an eroded Coat of Arms is apparent. The stair tower has a tall rectangular window equally divided with three mullions and transoms. The service wing projects to the north-east and comprises two gables; the westernmost gable is one bay longer and a C20 porch forms the new entrance to Pegasus House in the angle between the two. A C20 single storey addition projects to the south-east The north-west and south-east elevation have three dormers beneath gablets. The south-east elevation of the polite range has a flight of steps with stone walls leading to a door with stone surround, with windows above and to the left. The rear elevation of the main range is largely obscured by the service wing, but it is apparent that some rebuilding has occurred at the position of the back stairs possibly as a result of the fire in the 1920s.
INTERIOR
Burn's plan remains largely intact and comprises, in the polite range, an axial corridor with flagstone covering to the rear of a range of polite rooms on both ground and first floor. The main entrance lies at the west end of the corridor, and a secondary entrance leading into the pleasure gardens is at the east. The C16 restored coat of arms of Elizabeth I is wall mounted in the entrance. Beyond the entrance lobby, through another four-centred arched doorway and framed by projecting ribs resting on corbels carved with medieval faces, is the main staircase comprising carved timber handrail and newell posts and decorative cast iron balusters. The ceiling above has a central rose, radiating ribs to a frieze embossed with foliate, geometric, fleur-de-lys and Tudor rose motifs. Four panelled doors lead into the polite rooms on both floors, which have a south-west aspect. Although there are no contemporary fireplaces remaining, on the ground floor all rooms have shutter boxes to the windows and have good quality decorative plasterwork; that in the central room (probably the library) having a particularly ornate cornice of acanthus leaves. The corridor wall at the east end has been removed to open out the most easterly room, which may have been the dining room. On the first floor, less ornate, but deep plaster cornices remain in each room and although there has been some remodelling, the relationship between the main bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms has been maintained. At the east end, the remnants of the back stairs remain between the first floor and attic, but the staircase itself contains C20 elements. Of some interest is the mullion and transom stair window; the armorial stained glass in the central panels depict the Mackaness, Earls of Stafford and Howard-Vyse coats of arms. There has been some reworking of the attic spaces, but two of the rooms contain late C19 fireplaces.
The service wing contains a range of rooms on either side of a corridor on the central axis. Although the plan-form of the service wing is largely intact, there are no historic fixtures and fittings of interest. Some elements from the remodelled back stairs are found at the south end, but do not appear to be in their original position.
HISTORY
Built to the east of the former medieval and later Boughton Hall, the new hall, designed by William Burn was constructed in 1844, in part perhaps for the Rev. Granville Howard-Vyse who had become rector of Boughton. He lived at the hall until his death in 1896, thereafter it was leased until 1927 when it was sold to F W Panther, Esq. Panther reformed the lake in the grounds and restored the Elizabeth I coat of arms found in the kitchen garden in the mid C19 by the Rev Howard-Vyse. The estate was sold to Mr J Mackaness in 1964, who undertook restoration prior to occupying the hall in 1966. Within the last 15 years or so, the hall has been sold on and subdivided into two units; the stables and coach-houses to the north have also been subdivided into many residencies.

REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION
The former Boughton Hall, now known as Boughton Hall and Pegasus House, is designated in Grade II for the following principal reasons.
* It is an excellent example of William Burn's masterful use of plan-form, seen in his designated compositions in England and Scotland.
* It has good quality exterior treatment, both in materials and craftsmanship and has a distinguished design accentuated by the use of projecting gables and interplay of the roof-scape.
* It retains important interior features including the Elizabeth I coat of arms believed to date from c 1570.

{4}House of Wentworths gone. Present house built 1844 "in the domestic style of English Architecture" ie Tudor. Architect was William Burn. East of house, early 18th century gatepiers with splendid laed heraldic supporters with the Wentworth arms, returned to Boughton in 1972.

{6} An application to consider Boughton Hall for listing has been submitted to English Heritage. The Hall is located within a grade II registered Park and Garden (no 2325) which contains a number of listed structures of the eighteenth century. In recent years, the Hall has been subdivided into two properties and refurbished internally; the former servants wing is now known as Pegasus House, the polite range retains the name of Boughton Hall. Both dwellings are considered in this assessment as one structure and neither is under any known threat.

HISTORY.
The Boughton estate has a long and distinguished history dating from the thirteenth century. The manor was the seat of the Baron Vaux's until being purchased by John Briscoe in 1685. Briscoe is said to have pulled down some of the old hall, probably located to the west of the current building and to have laid out the designed landscape. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Stafford bought the estate in 1717 when the old hall was described as 'old, but not large…pleasantly situated upon a rising ground which commands a very extensive prospect.' Drawings of the hall in 1720 and 1785 indicate Elizabethan alterations to an earlier core; a central block comprised a great hall with screens passage, possibly dating to the fourteenth century, which had projecting wings to the west and south of sixteenth century and later, some by the 2nd Earl of Stafford who was said to have been much influenced by his friend Horace Walpole's Strawberry Hill. By the later eighteenth century, the hall was set within a large designed landscape comprising pleasure gardens to the south of the existing hall, formal planting and a lake in the park to the north. A number of Gothick additions were made to the house and grounds, including the gateway lodge to the west known as the Hawking Tower (grade II) and Spinney grotto, also grade II. To the east eighteenth century gate piers supporting the Wentworth Coat of Arms are also listed in grade II.

In the early nineteenth century, the estate owners, the Howard-Vyse family, planned to reduce the size of the house, but by 1822 the Northamptonshire historian George Baker said that the hall 'is now nearly levelled with the ground' having become ruinous. The new hall, designed by William Burn was constructed in 1844, in part perhaps for the Rev. Granville Howard-Vyse who had become rector of Boughton. He lived at the hall until his death in 1896, thereafter it was leased until 1927 when it was sold to F W Panther, Esq. It is said that a fire occurred in the 1920s which resulted in damage to the servants wing interior and back stairs. Panther reformed the lake in the grounds and restored the Elizabeth I coat of arms found in the kitchen garden in the mid nineteenth century by the Rev Howard-Vyse. This magnificent piece, located in the entrance lobby of the hall, was finally restored in 1966. It may have come from the old hall, but historian Bruce Bailey suggested that it originated from Holdenby House (grade I, sixteenth century and later) and probably dates to 1570.

The estate was sold to Mr J Mackaness in 1964, who undertook restoration prior to occupying the hall in 1966. Within the last 15 years or so, the hall has been sold on and subdivided into two units; the stables and coach-houses to the north have also been subdivided into many residencies. Boughton Hall has been recently refurbished.

DESCRIPTION.
A small country house, built 1844 by William Burn for the Howard-Vyse family in Tudor-Gothic style, constructed of coursed local stone with slate-covered gable roofs and ridge and end stacks rebuilt in gault brick with between 1 and 3 pots. Approximately 'L' shaped in plan, the polite range is of two storeys with an attic and the service wing, arranged in two gables, is of two storeys with a cellar. There are deeply recessed Elizabethan-style mullion and transom windows of mostly two or three lights with stone surrounds throughout, some with drip-mouldings above. The fenestration in the main range comprises single lights or two pane sash windows and those in the service wing and attic have sashes with 4-over-4 lights with glazing bars.

The principal elevation of the polite range faces to the south-west and has two full-height projecting bays to the right and left, the latter with a ground floor bay window. Each projecting bay has coped pediments adorned with finials and there are two similarly detailed central dormers with gablets. The north-west elevation focuses on the full-height entrance lobby beneath a hipped roof. It is positioned in the angle between the front range and stair tower and has the ensuite bathroom for one of the principle bedrooms at first floor. A small porch beneath a gablet projects from the lobby, approached by a flight of stone steps framed by low walls.; the four-centred arched entrance has decorated spandrels and drip moulding above. Beneath the coped gablet, an eroded coat of arms is apparent. The stair tower has a tall rectangular window equally divided with three mullions and transoms. The service wing projects to the north-east and comprises two gables; the westernmost gable is one bay longer and a twentieth century porch forms the new entrance to Pegasus House in the angle between the two. A twentieth century single storey addition projects to the south-east. The north-west and south-east elevation have three dormers beneath gablets. The south-east elevation of the polite range has a flight of steps with stone walls leading to a door with stone surround, with windows above and to the left. The rear elevation of the main range is largely obscured by the service wing, but it is apparent that some rebuilding has occurred at the position of the back stairs possibly as a result of the fire in the 1920s.

INTERIOR
Burn's plan remains largely intact and comprises, in the polite range, an axial corridor with flagstone covering to the rear of a range of polite rooms on both ground and first floor. The main entrance lies at the west end of the corridor, and a secondary entrance leading into the pleasure gardens is at the east. The C16 restored coat of arms of Elizabeth I is wall mounted in the entrance. Beyond the entrance lobby, through another four-centred arched doorway and framed by projecting ribs resting on corbels carved with medieval faces, is the main staircase comprising carved timber handrail and newell posts and decorative cast iron balusters. The ceiling above has a central rose, radiating ribs to a frieze embossed with foliate, geometric, fleur-de-lys and Tudor rose motifs. Four panelled doors lead into the polite rooms on both floors, which have a south-west aspect. Although there are no contemporary fireplaces remaining, on the ground floor all rooms have shutter boxes to the windows and have good quality decorative plasterwork; that in the central room (probably the library) having a particularly ornate cornice of acanthus leaves. The corridor wall at the east end has been removed to open out the most easterly room, which may have been the dining room. On the first floor, less ornate, but deep plaster cornices remain in each room and although there has been some remodelling, the relationship between the main bedrooms and ensuite bathrooms has been maintained. At the east end, the remnants of the back stairs remain between the first floor and attic, but the staircase itself contains twentieth century elements. Of some interest is the mullion and transom stair window, reworked in the late twentieth century; the armorial stained glass in the central panels depict the Mackaness, Earls of Stafford and Howard-Vyse coats of arms. There has been some reworking of the attic spaces, but two of the rooms contain late nineteenth century fireplaces.

The service wing contains a range of rooms on either side of a corridor on the central axis. Although the plan-form of the service wing is largely intact, there are no historic fixtures and fittings of interest. Some elements from the remodelled back stairs are at the south end, but do not appear to be in their original position.

ASSESSMENT.
For those buildings which post-date 1840, greater selection is required with architectural quality, intactness and rarity being key considerations. Boughton Hall is an example of a small country house of which there are many nationally, some highly graded. Indeed this type of building is one of the most studied and understood in the national stock, ensuring highly informed comparison for designation purposes. Set within a grade II registered Park and Garden and a short distance from the below ground archaeological remains of the medieval and later hall, the current Boughton Hall and Pegasus House are the latest structures to have occupied a landscape of considerable antiquity, recognised as having local and national importance.

The hall's architect, William Burn (1789-1870), attracts effusive praise and ambivalent comment in equal measure for his design skills, but is greatly admired for his detailed and sophisticated plan-forms. Born in Edinburgh and a student of Smirke, Burn had a prolific career on both sides of the border. Versatile and flexible, he embraced numerous styles from classical to Neo-perpendicular and Jacobean, and was a key architect in the development of the Scottish baronial style. Following his move to London in 1844, Burn specialised in the design and execution of country houses, many highly graded, Revesby Abbey (1844, grade I) Rauceby Hall (1842, grade II) to name but two. Typically, he would be renovating or designing anew up to 6 country houses in a year, his popularity with clients centred on his willingness to adhere strictly to their requirements and understanding of the importance of privacy and usability. Burn has rightly been acknowledged for his masterful use of plan-form to secure segregation for the family from servants and guests, eloquently expressed in Boughton Hall where the plan-form remains substantially intact. Similar to Whitehill (Historic Scotland Category A, Midlothian, 1844) and Spottiswoode (Category B, Berwickshire, 1832), Burn used a long corridor at the rear of the principal rooms on both ground and first floor to allow maximum permeability whilst ensuring the privacy of the family. With a south-west aspect facing the pleasure grounds, the polite rooms are discreetly arranged with a single point of access. Unusually for this early date, and a feature of Burn's planning which made his reputation, is the provision of ensuite bathrooms and dressing rooms to the first floor bedrooms, further ensuring privacy. The main and back staircases are positioned at each end of the corridor, affording maximum separation between family members and servants. The angled entrance lobby at the west end, behind which the main stairs lie, is meticulously positioned giving the design picturesque asymmetry and allowing the visitor access to the corridor and stairs, but not directly to the main rooms unlike a classically-arranged house. Although partly obscured by the twentieth century sub-division, the relationship between the service wing and main range is precise. Located at right angles to the main range to provide a sheltered forecourt, the service wing has two points of entry into the corridor; one centrally placed and another at the east end providing access to the back stairs and dining room.

The exterior treatment clearly reflects the interior plan. Although Boughton Hall is plain, its well-crafted stone work is of demonstrable quality. Other than subtle differences in fenestration, there is little distinction between the main and service ranges; the building has a cohesive language, reminiscent of the eloquent Tudor-Gothic Rauceby Hall, albeit in a condensed form. The gables on each elevation provide a rhythm to the composition whilst the roof-line and stack arrangement provides skyline interest. Remodelling of recent years has inevitably resulted in the loss of some historic fixtures and fittings, notably fireplaces in the main range and all interior detailing in the service wing. However, the windows, many shutter boxes and main staircase remain and there is good quality decorative plasterwork in the main range. Of particular importance is the restored C16 relief of Elizabeth I coat of arms in the entrance lobby which adds considerable interest. The back stair window, featuring coats of arms of the Wentworths and Howard-Vyse's in stained glass is a curiosity which, although reworked in the twentieth century, is also of note.

{7} The present building is named 'Boughton Hall'; there is no evidence of an earlier structure but the land scaping suggests an earlier building would have occupied the same site.

<1> Heward J.; Taylor R., 1996, The Country Houses of Northamptonshire, p.91-93 (part checked) (Book). SNN41757.

<2> English Heritage, 1984, Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England (1984, Northamptonshire), Part 30 (Report). SNN46781.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.109 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Mayes, I., 1975, Stately Homes - Who Cares: A French Chateau in the Heart of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Newspaper cuttings). SNN54714.

<6> ENGISH HERITAGE, English Heritage Listing File, Sarah Gibson, HPA, 22 May 2008 (Report). SNN111579.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 8-MAY-69 (Notes). SNN112950.

<8> Brown, RW, 1927, Guide to Northamptonshire, p. 100 (Book). SNN113410.

<9> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<10> Historic England, Undated, BOUGHTON PARK, BOUGHTON, BF061848 (Archive). SNN113411.

<11> Historic England, NMR Measured Drawings, NMR06 (Drawing). SNN113008.

<12> Historic England, Undated, Labelled sheet of plans of Boughton Hall, showing the ground- and first-floors, CH01/082/01/021 (Plan). SNN113412.

Record last edited

Oct 24 2024 11:41AM