Hornby Castle, Lancashire
Encyclopedia
Hornby Castle is a country house, developed from a medieval
castle, standing to the east of the village of Hornby
in the Lune Valley
, Lancashire
, England. It occupies a position overlooking the village in a curve of the River Wenning
. The castle has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building.
family in the 13th century; this is the most likely date of the base of the tower at the back of the castle. The polygonal tower rising from this base dates from the 16th century, and was built probably for Sir Edward Stanley
, 1st Baron Mounteagle. The castle was remodelled in about 1720 for Colonel Charteris. By the middle of the 19th century the building had been inherited by Pudsey Dawson. Dawson commissioned the Lancaster
architects Sharpe and Paley to rebuild much of the structure; this was carried out between 1847 and 1850. The architects retained the older parts, including the polygonal tower, but demolished or remodelled the section constructed for Charteris. In 1879–82 the successors in the architectural practice, Paley and Austin, made additions on the west side of the building, and further alterations were made in 1890 by W. and R. Mawson of Bradford
. In the middle of the 20th century some of the rooms in the east parts of the house were removed in order to create a courtyard
. At the same time the main internal staircase was removed.
rubble
and it has slate
roofs. Its architectural style is Perpendicular. The plan is irregular. The building is mainly in two storeys, and much of it has a battlement
ed parapet
. The entrance front faces southwest and is almost symmetrical, with seven bays
. The lateral bays project forward, as does the central three-storey porch. All the windows are mullion
ed, or mullioned and transomed
. The lateral bays have bay window
s, the upper floors of which are cant
ed. The left bay has an additional pair of windows above the bay window. On each side of the porch are two bays containing varying types of windows. The porch has an octagonal turret
on the left and a diagonal buttress
on the right. In the middle storey is an oriel window
, above which is a three-light window. Behind the porch, and slightly off-set to the left, is a square tower, and to its left is the taller, narrower, polygonal tower. The windows in the square tower include a partly blocked Venetian window. The courtyard created in the 20th century is behind the three right bays.
ceiling with foliated bosses
. The hall is entered through a Tudor arch containing a Gothic
-style glazed timber screen. The hall contains a sandstone fireplace with a Tudor arch. Its windows contain stained glass dating from the late 19th century and moved here in the 20th century. To the left of the hall is the Library containing woodwork said to be by Gillows. The upper floor includes a billiard room with Gothic decoration. Also on the upper floor is a drawing room with a barrel vault
and pendents.
. The walls are listed at Grade II. At the entrance to the drive formerly leading to the castle is a lodge and gate piers
. The lodge has a canted front, a steep slated roof, and an embattled
turret. The gate piers are carved with roundels containing green men
and the crest
of Pudsey Dawson. The lodge, gate piers and adjoining wall are also listed at Grade II.
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
castle, standing to the east of the village of Hornby
Hornby-with-Farleton
Hornby-with-Farleton is a civil parish in the City of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It had a population of 729 recorded in the 2001 census,. The parish is north east of Lancaster and consists of two villages: Hornby and Farleton, both on the A683 road...
in the Lune Valley
River Lune
The River Lune is a river in Cumbria and Lancashire, England.It is formed at Wath, in the parish of Ravenstonedale, Cumbria, at the confluence of Sandwath Beck and Weasdale Beck...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England. It occupies a position overlooking the village in a curve of the River Wenning
River Wenning
The River Wenning is a tributary of the River Lune, flowing through North Yorkshire and Lancashire. The Wenning rises at Clapham in Yorkshire and flows westwards through High Bentham, Low Bentham and Wennington....
. The castle has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building.
History
It is thought that the castle was originally built for the NevilleHouse of Neville
The House of Neville is a noble house of early medieval origin, which was a leading force in English politics in the later middle ages...
family in the 13th century; this is the most likely date of the base of the tower at the back of the castle. The polygonal tower rising from this base dates from the 16th century, and was built probably for Sir Edward Stanley
Edward Stanley, 1st Baron Monteagle
Edward Stanley, 1st Baron Monteagle was an English soldier who became a peer and Knight of the Garter. He is known, perhaps wrongly, for his deeds at the Battle of Flodden.-Life:...
, 1st Baron Mounteagle. The castle was remodelled in about 1720 for Colonel Charteris. By the middle of the 19th century the building had been inherited by Pudsey Dawson. Dawson commissioned the Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
architects Sharpe and Paley to rebuild much of the structure; this was carried out between 1847 and 1850. The architects retained the older parts, including the polygonal tower, but demolished or remodelled the section constructed for Charteris. In 1879–82 the successors in the architectural practice, Paley and Austin, made additions on the west side of the building, and further alterations were made in 1890 by W. and R. Mawson of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
. In the middle of the 20th century some of the rooms in the east parts of the house were removed in order to create a courtyard
Courtyard
A court or courtyard is an enclosed area, often a space enclosed by a building that is open to the sky. These areas in inns and public buildings were often the primary meeting places for some purposes, leading to the other meanings of court....
. At the same time the main internal staircase was removed.
Exterior
The house is constructed in sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
and it has slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roofs. Its architectural style is Perpendicular. The plan is irregular. The building is mainly in two storeys, and much of it has a battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
ed parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
. The entrance front faces southwest and is almost symmetrical, with seven bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. The lateral bays project forward, as does the central three-storey porch. All the windows are mullion
Mullion
A mullion is a vertical structural element which divides adjacent window units. The primary purpose of the mullion is as a structural support to an arch or lintel above the window opening. Its secondary purpose may be as a rigid support to the glazing of the window...
ed, or mullioned and transomed
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
. The lateral bays have bay window
Bay window
A bay window is a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building and forming a bay in a room, either square or polygonal in plan. The angles most commonly used on the inside corners of the bay are 90, 135 and 150 degrees. Bay windows are often associated with Victorian architecture...
s, the upper floors of which are cant
Cant
Cant, canting, or canted may refer to:*Empty, uncritical thought or talk - see *The slope or angle at which something is set, such as the frames of a ship's hull - again, see *Cant , a secret language...
ed. The left bay has an additional pair of windows above the bay window. On each side of the porch are two bays containing varying types of windows. The porch has an octagonal turret
Turret
In architecture, a turret is a small tower that projects vertically from the wall of a building such as a medieval castle. Turrets were used to provide a projecting defensive position allowing covering fire to the adjacent wall in the days of military fortification...
on the left and a diagonal buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
on the right. In the middle storey is an oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
, above which is a three-light window. Behind the porch, and slightly off-set to the left, is a square tower, and to its left is the taller, narrower, polygonal tower. The windows in the square tower include a partly blocked Venetian window. The courtyard created in the 20th century is behind the three right bays.
Interior
The porch has a vaultedVault (architecture)
A Vault is an architectural term for an arched form used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that require a counter resistance. When vaults are built underground, the ground gives all the resistance required...
ceiling with foliated bosses
Boss (architecture)
In architecture, a boss is a knob or protrusion of stone or wood.Bosses can often be found in the ceilings of buildings, particularly at the intersection of a vault. In Gothic architecture, such roof bosses are often intricately carved with foliage, heraldic devices or other decorations...
. The hall is entered through a Tudor arch containing a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
-style glazed timber screen. The hall contains a sandstone fireplace with a Tudor arch. Its windows contain stained glass dating from the late 19th century and moved here in the 20th century. To the left of the hall is the Library containing woodwork said to be by Gillows. The upper floor includes a billiard room with Gothic decoration. Also on the upper floor is a drawing room with a barrel vault
Barrel vault
A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design...
and pendents.
External features
To the northeast of the main building is the earlier courtyard, now surrounded by apartments. It is entered by a gatehouse with a pointed arch. On the southwest and southeast sides of the house is a terrace with sandstone walls dating from the 19th century. Three flights of steps lead down from the terrace, and at the north end is a small semicircular building acting as a bastionBastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
. The walls are listed at Grade II. At the entrance to the drive formerly leading to the castle is a lodge and gate piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. The lodge has a canted front, a steep slated roof, and an embattled
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
turret. The gate piers are carved with roundels containing green men
Green Man
A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit...
and the crest
Crest (heraldry)
A crest is a component of an heraldic display, so called because it stands on top of a helmet, as the crest of a jay stands on the bird's head....
of Pudsey Dawson. The lodge, gate piers and adjoining wall are also listed at Grade II.