Murton Hall

Description

Murton Hall stands on the E. side of the village. It is of two storeys; the walls are of rubble and the roofs are slate-covered. The E. part of the main block, now a cow-house, dates probably from the second half of the 14th century. The middle part of the main block was built or re-built in the second half of the 16th century and the W. end of the block is probably a slightly later addition. The long wing projecting to the N. was added in the second half of the 17th century and the small wing or dairy on the same side dates probably from late in the same century. The N. front of the original block has a late 14th-century window (Plate 31) now converted into a doorway; it was of three trefoiled ogee lights in a square head with a moulded label stepped up above the middle light; the spandrels are carved with blank shields, figure-subjects and ears of corn. The 16th-century part of the front has an embattled and crow-stepped porch with three blank shields above the doorway; the latter has a triangular arch in a square head; the inner doorway has a four-centred head; farther W. is a five-light transomed window with a moulded label and a blocked doorway. The upper windows are also of the 16th century and have moulded labels, as have those in the W. end. The back of this block has similar windows, one of four transomed lights. One of the chimney-stacks of this block is finished with an octagonal gabled lantern of the 14th century and probably re-set. Inside the main block, the original part retains a 14th-century fireplace with moulded jambs and shouldered triangular arch; the upper storey has an original roof of three bays, with curved principals, tie-beams and king-posts with longitudinal struts. The 16th-century part has a fireplace with a four-centred arch, and there is a second, of similar form, on the first floor. Some 17th-century panelling and some panelled doors remain. The projecting N. wing has 17th-century stone doorways and windows with mullions and labels. The roof is of the same period and of six bays; in the S. wall is a blocked segmental arch, perhaps of a former fireplace. Built into a garden-wall is the traceried head of a two-light 14th-century window. (RCHME 1936)

Large house, dating from C14 with later additions and alterations. Earlier fabric coursed rubble; additions, sandstone blocks with quoins. Graduated slate roof has stone coping, kneelers, and brick chimney to east end; corniced stone chimneys to west end and east of centre, re-used C14 gabled lantern to west of centre. Early C19 outshut to rear. 2 storeys, 6 bays with C16 mullioned 2, 3 and 4-light windows under hoodmoulds with labels to front, west return, and rear. Single multi-light mullioned and transomed window to ground floor front and rear. C16 embattled front porch has outer part-glazed door in chamfered surround with 3 blank shields above false 4-centred head; inner door has 4-centred head. Present interior has shouldered arch to service door at south end of entrance passage with spit rack on adjoining wall. Ground floor centre room has large fireplace with elliptical head. West end retains dais, now separated by wall incorporating 2 capitals (to freestanding columns?); C17 panelling to room. Undercroft has flagged floor; window and original external entrance, with pointed head, in west return now blocked. Lower 2-storey building, now used as store, adjoining east end has plank door inserted under an ornate C14 window head with 3 trefoiled ogee lights having sculpted spandrels and 2 blank shields. Internally, 2 service doors (now blocked) opened into present entrance passage to house. Mural stair (with external thickening) leads to 1st floor, now hay loft, with chamfered fireplace and later door in end wall; blocked door in north wall originally led into 1st floor of former C17 wing (listed separately). - 2 king-post roof trusses. Visual evidence suggests the C14 Hall was lower, shorter and wider with side rooms entered internally through openings with decorative capitals (possibly an arcade). The Hall was reduced in width, heightened and lengthened, probably in the C16. Area wall to rear incorporates pointed head of C14 window. (Listed Building Report)

Comments

Perriam and Robinson include this in their gazetteer of medieval fortified building. The form of the medieval building is not clear but there is no suggestion of a pele tower, moat or anything else suggestive of defence.