Torrells Hall (EHER 33111)

House built late 16th century with late 17th century lean-to extension north of main block, a further block refaced in the mid 18th century, the southern, front block added circa 1800. Built partly of red brick and partly of gault brick with roofs of peg tiles and slate. Ornamental garden features of uncertain date.

Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import. Torrell's Hall (NR) <1> Torrells Hall - 16th century brick house much altered in the 18th century and later, with 18th - 19th century front block added. <2> Field visit 1976 Torrell's Hall (name confirmed) is generally as described; much altered in the 19th century. Not outstanding. <3> Torrells Hall House, late 16th century, 18th century and around 1800. A very complex building with numerous alterations and extensions. Part red brick, part gault brick with roofs of peg tile and slate. The southern, front block is an addition of around 1800 by John Johnson, County Surveyor (1732-1814) in gault brick with a parapeted, low pitched slate roof with red ridge tiles. Of two storeys with stone cornice/parapet and stone band at first floor cill level. The first floor has three tripartite sash windows with segmental heads and square panes, the centre window having dummy side lights. The ground floor has two similar windows and a central, projecting, fluted Doric porch and original 6 panel door and semi-circular fanlight. This block was added to the earlier house to the rear which is substantially of red brickwork and mostly English bond with a variety of peg tile roofs. To the north-east corner is a two storey block with attics, with parapeted gable, facing north with moulded brick corbelled shoulders and a truncated gable finial. The eaves have three courses of diagonal brick cornicing and a massive stack with rounded off-sets abuts its east flank. The north-facing windows are later, double hung sash windows and casements partly within earlier openings. A two-storey block to the south of this has mid 18th century diapered red and grey refacing on its east side with a simple entrance door and a variety of contemporary double hung sashes with small panes. Two single-storey gabled blocks project out from this face enclosing a small court. To the north of the main block is a late 17th century lean-to extension, now with a slate roof and a further peg tile and brick lean-to completes the north-west corner. This has a gabled two-light dormer and 3 segmental-arched hooded openings, one blocked, one with a three-light casement and one with a repositioned door surround. This is of the late 16th century with moulded cornice and Ionic pilasters with strapwork and latticed rustication. The interior of the front block shows barrel-coved entrance passage, reeded architraves and cornices, a typical staircase with straight rod balusters and a pair of `Palmyra' columns defining a dining room recess. Leaded light window in west flank wall has fragments of old heraldic glass. The 16th century block contains a remarkable complete open well staircase, with square newels with ogee finials, arcaded inner balustrading and turned, symmetrical balusters. Adjoining the base of this the remains of a tall `screen' with giant fluted pilasters on pedestals and an abundance of fret and strapwork detail. Evidence for heavily framed structure and roof with double side purlins with wind bracing. Most original fireplace openings now blocked but a small arch headed and chamfered fireplace remains in a small first floor room. A number of 16th/17th century plank doors survive and some areas of 17th century panelling. (RCHM 11). <4> Field visit, 1988 Torrell's Hall is as described by <4>, approximately 100m SW of the house, at TL 60030819, is a square island surrounded by a waterfilled ditch, undoubtedly part of an associated ornamental garden layout (see TL 60 NW 19) east of this feature, in the lawned area south of the walled garden, amorphous scarps are visible, the alignments of which preserve the axial symmetry of the house and modern garden layout, the walls of the latter displaying a multiperiod construction, most probably consistent with the periods of remodelling for the house. The continuity of occupation on this site makes the dating of the fragmentary scarps and ornamental earthworks uncertain. <5> Photographed <6> Additional reference <7>