Hallaton Hall (Aka Torch House)

Country house. Early C19 with probably C16 origins, with major late C19 additions and alterations. Mainly rendered and colourwashed brick with hipped slate roofs and various brick ridge and side stacks. Possibly hall and cross wings E-plan originally, now much extended. 2 storeys, partly with attic, and 3 storeys. Entrance front has recessed centre with a projecting wing either side. 5-window range at first floor of C20 windows, 4 in centre and 1 on left wing. Ground floor in centre has 2 2-light mullion and transom windows and a pair of double glazed doors set within a glazed and colonnaded porch with glazed roof. Garden front to right has a 3-storey central block with large ground-floor projection and a 2-storey block either side. A 6-window range at first floor of C20 sash type windows with a small extra window to left of the higher block. 2 sash type windows to the third storey. 2 tall mullion and transom windows to each of the side wings. All these windows have blind boxes and some have stucco heads. The large projection to the central block has tall mullion and transom windows and a small C20 extension either side. To right of this front an elaborate winter garden with glazed front and gabled roof and gabled central entrance with double glazed doors. To right of this a single-storey former music room addition dated 1903 with simple Dutch gable and stone square bay window facing the garden. Further additions behind. To left of the entrance front further long wings extend to the rear. Nearest the entrance front are some sash windows with stucco heads and a c.1900 lean-to addition. Dormers above. The extension of the rear wings on both sides has created a deep U-plan yard to rear. INTERIOR. The interior was richly refitted c.1900. Entrance hall has wooden panelling in Jacobean style with elaborate screen and fireplace with overmantel. Art Nouveau patterned stained glass in the windows and in the screen. The ceiling beams have deep sunk-quadrant and concave mouldings with run-out stops and appear to be C16 with later base boarding. The lower height of this room suggests that this is the original date for this part of the house. To left is the dining room also in Jacobean style with panelling, 2 fireplaces with overmantels, plaster ceiling and a deep bay, the entrance to which is supported on wooden reeded columns and pilasters. Some Art Nouveau patterned stained glass in the windows. To right of the entrance hall is the drawing room with further elaborate late C18 style decoration. 2 fireplaces incorporate tall thin composite columns and overmantels, the walls are divided into panels and there is plaster ceiling decoration. The dividing arch and the arch into the bay are supported on reeded Ionic columns and pilasters. Behind the drawing room a further reception room has C18 style marble fireplace and an elaborate window surround to the French window facing the winter garden. The large staircase hall has an open-well stair with ramped balustrade with turned balusters which may in part be C17. Dado panelling. The staircase hall was remodelled c.1900 and now incorporates a 2-storey screen with open arches and a further side screen with arches, the whole producing a very theatrical effect. The hall is lit by an oval skylight with elaborate patterned and coloured glazing. In many rooms the doors have elaborate door furniture and in various rooms on both floors the doors are moulded 6-panel, probably from the early C19 remodelling, and on the first floor are architraves and cornices also from this period. On this floor over the entrance hall are heavy bridging beams, one boxed, which may survive from the early house. Here leading from the first floor to attic is an early C19 stair with stick balustrade. The steep roof of this range is a C19 replacement. Other roofs not inspected. The fine and intact winter garden has tufa rockwork-covered walls, curving mosaic paths and floor and central and surrounding raised beds. The former music room has a coved ceiling and the former reception room behind has a coved ceiling supported on moulded beams and moulded doorcase and door. This house, which has evolved over a long period, retains much of the elaborate refitting of c.1900 and features of the early C19 with fragments of the much older house.