| Description | Woolley Hall, associated buildings and part of park (see PRNs 13011 13016 for Home Farm, 1103 for Icehouse) Some features of park appear to date from at least the early 19th c., and may represent survival of 18th c. landscape. Woolley Hall, a former manor house is currently being used as a residential conference centre. The hall was rebuilt in the mid 17th century and altered and extended until 1825. It stands amid extensive parkland and formal italian gardens which can clearly be seen on the aerial photographs.
Large country house, now residential college. Built c1675 with later 17th century and 18th century additions. Constructed of hammer dressed stone and ashlar dressings, with a stone slate roof.
H shaped house c1635 with added east wing of mid 18th century date, and later extended c.1800 when rear projecting bay, new entrance porch and service ranges to east were added. Of two storeys with basement and attics and three storeys.
South entrance front: quoins. Deeply indented facade has five main elements: ABCBA
A, set forward from B, has single bay of 19th century, with sash windows featuring plain stone surrounds with 4 light flat faced mullioned window to basement;
B, set forward from C, has two bays of 18th century sash windows with plain stone surrounds. Continuous dripcourse. A and B have shaped coped gables with spike finials and 2 light double chamfered mullioned attic windows to apex.
C: three bays, central doorway with Gibbs surround, windows either side altered to French windows. Open porch, c1800, has balustraded balcony carried on two pilasters; sash windows to first floor, embattled parapet. Added to right of east wing c1800, 7 bay 3 storey extension with sash windows.
Rear (North front): central full height 3 storey canted bay with tall arched sash windows to ground floor and rectangular sashes above. Flanking wings have tripartite sash with plain sashes above to three floors. Linking embattled parapet. Outer wings have single bay of sash windows to each floor and shaped gables.
Left hand return, (West front): 9 bay facade, central three bays breaking forward under shaped gable with an achievement of arms. First three bays mid 18th century. All have sash windows. Embattled parapet.
Right hand return: (East front) U shaped. Central block and gabled wing to left retain 17th century fenestration with some windows with double chamfered surrounds, mullioned originally now with small paned sashes. 17th century attic dormer has coped gable and finial.
Interior: largely remodelled in 1807. Large open stair hall to designs by Charles Watson executed by Thomas Shuttleworth c1807 8. 18th century Neo Classical fireplace (probably moved from library) has engaged Roman Ionic columns, frieze with carved tablet decorated with arts of reading. Five doorways leading off have architraves and 6 panel mahogany doors with astragal mouldings. Imperial staircase supported on Tuscan columns and Ionic columns at first floor, cantilevered wooden stair, cast iron balustrade and ramped handrail. Former dining room has Neo Classical fireplace, possibly from Hickleton Hall (information Peter Brears), apsidal end with three elliptical headed windows and panelled surround; paired doorways at opposite end have carved frieze and cornice of great similarity to ones at Bretton Hall (q.v.) by John Carr. Edwardian plaster ceiling. Library has fireplace with eared surround. Billiard room has 18th century fireplace with fluted frieze decorated with urns. Drawing room: c1807. Dado, door and window architraves have chain decoration. Double mahogany doors. Fireplace has fluted Doric columns and steel and brass fittings. Formerly decorated with wall paintings by Agostino Agio. Roof: 4 bay hall has king post roof. East wing has 6 bay notched collar truss roof.
The house is the seat of the Wentworths. |