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Lincolnshire HER

Name:Nocton Hall
HER Number:MLI81859
Type of record:Building

Summary

The present Nocton Hall is an 1841 rebuild of the previous hall on the site, which may have its origins in the medieval period.

Grid Reference:TF 061 643
Map Sheet:TF06SE
Parish:NOCTON, NORTH KESTEVEN, LINCOLNSHIRE

Full description

The present Nocton Hall is a rebuild of the previous hall on the site, which burned down in 1834. The Hall was rebuilt in a Tudor style in 1841, for the first Earl of Ripon by William Shearburn. The previous hall was built by Sir William Ellys in the late 17th century. It was E-shaped with large projecting wings and turrets. It had formal gardens laid out in a style fashionable for the time. Sketches of the old hall before and after the fire and a plan drawn immediately after the fire survive.
It is suggested that the late 17th century hall was itself a remodelling of an earlier house on the site, the greater part of which was built in the early to mid 16th century, perhaps by Thomas Wymbishe or the Townley family. An inventory of 1628 describes a large manor house with four towers, a long gallery and a chamber overlooking the churchyard. It is also suggested that many of the features of this building survived Ellys's remodelling of the late 17th century. This is most likely the residence owned by Sir Henry Stanley in the mid to late 16th century. It is further argued that the layout of the rooms and staircase turrets with external openings at ground floor level suggest a medieval courtyard house with either an east range, or a gatehouse and screen wall on that side. The hall was altered again in about 1805 by the fourth Earl of Buckinghamshire.
The present hall is of two-and-a-half storeys on basements. It is built of ashlar stone with ashlar dressings, and features slate ridge roofs, with clusters of octagonal moulded stacks. The present hall incorporates much of the foundations of the older hall, although the new hall is more compact. The outline of the old hall can be traced beneath the new one. The avenue of trees which leads up to the entrance of the new hall would have lined up with one of the main entrances in the west wing of the old hall. A banqueting house of the old hall survives to the south-west of the hall (see MLI81865).
The hall more recently served as an RAF hospital. For the full description and the legal address of this listed building please refer to the appropriate List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. {1}{2}{3}{4}{5}{6}{7}

A cast iron fireback, dated 1588, is located at Nocton Hall. It is presumably from the earlier house. {8}

The hall was severely damaged in a fire in October 2004, which destroyed most of the interior. {9}


<1> Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram, 1989, Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition), p.578 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI1062.

<2> William White, 1856, History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire (Second Edition), p.365 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI886.

<3> Henry Thorold, 1999, Lincolnshire Houses, p.161 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI6929.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1902-06, 25 Inch County Series Map - Second Edition, TF 06 SE (Map). SLI3566.

<5> Carol Bennett, 1996, 'E.J.Willson and the Architectural History of Nocton Old Hall' in Lincolnshire People and Places, pp.26-42 (Article in Serial). SLI6920.

<6> Terence R. Leach, 1991, Lincolnshire Country Houses and Their Families - Part Two, pp.191-204 (Bibliographic Reference). SLI6936.

<7> Department of the Environment, 1985, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 5/63 (Index). SLI6615.

<8> Lincolnshire County Council, Sites and Monuments Record Card Index, TF 06 SE: AF (Index). SLI2881.

<9> North Kesteven District Council, 2008, Nocton Conservation Area: An Assessment of the Character and Appearance of the Conservation Area, Appendix 1, 17 (Report). SLI12159.

Monument Types

  • MANOR HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1066 AD? to 1675 AD?)
  • COUNTRY HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1675 AD? to 1834 AD)
  • COUNTRY HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1841 AD to 2050 AD)

Associated Events

  • Site visit to present Nocton Hall
  • Site visit as part of Nocton Conservation Area Assessment

Protected Status

  • Listed Building
  • Conservation Area

Sources and further reading

<1>Bibliographic Reference: Nikolaus Pevsner and John Harris, with Nicholas Antram. 1989. Buildings of England: Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.578.
<2>Bibliographic Reference: William White. 1856. History, Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire (Second Edition). p.365.
<3>Bibliographic Reference: Henry Thorold. 1999. Lincolnshire Houses. p.161.
<4>Map: Ordnance Survey. 1902-06. 25 Inch County Series Map - Second Edition. 1:2500. TF 06 SE.
<5>Article in Serial: Carol Bennett. 1996. 'E.J.Willson and the Architectural History of Nocton Old Hall' in Lincolnshire People and Places. pp.26-42.
<6>Bibliographic Reference: Terence R. Leach. 1991. Lincolnshire Country Houses and Their Families - Part Two. pp.191-204.
<7>Index: Department of the Environment. 1985. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. 5/63.
<8>Index: Lincolnshire County Council. Sites and Monuments Record Card Index. TF 06 SE: AF.
<9>Report: North Kesteven District Council. 2008. Nocton Conservation Area: An Assessment of the Character and Appearance of the Conservation Area. Appendix 1, 17.

Related records

MLI90073Related to: Barn near Nocton Hall, Nocton (Building)
MLI91846Related to: Coachman's cottage at Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI81865Related to: Former banqueting house in the grounds of Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI91848Related to: Former laundry at Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI91847Related to: Former outbuilding at Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI91841Related to: Gateway to Nocton Hall, Nocton (Monument)
MLI91850Related to: Icehouse at Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI81883Related to: Lodge to Nocton Hall, Main Road (Building)
MLI92341Related to: Nocton Hall Park (Monument)
MLI91849Related to: Outbuilding at Nocton Hall (Building)
MLI91844Related to: Walled garden to Nocton Hall (Monument)