Martholme

Details

GREAT HARWOOD MARTHOLME LANE SD 73 SE 3/72 Martholme 11.7.1966 GV I

House, formerly manor house of Hesketh family, medieval with C16 and C17 alterations and additions. Rendered sandstone rubble and coursed sandstone with quoins, slate roof with a ridge chimney and a projecting side wall chimney. T-shaped plan composed of remains of service end of medieval hall and its gabled service wing (remodelled in C16), with a C17 three-bay crosswing projecting to front and rear on the right (east) side which encloses an originally detached medieval timber-framed building (possibly a kitchen). Three-storey left gable, 2-storey wing. Stepped back on the left of the left gable is part of the wall of the lower end of the medieval hall, which has a moulded arched doorway (possibly C14) to a screen passage (a similar doorway visible inside at the further end), and a blocked cross window above. The gable wall of the service wing has a square-headed window of 3 round-headed lights on each of its 3 floors, and between the upper 2 a sculptured stone panel containing an eagle displaying 2 heads (Hesketh arms), and lettered in the corners 15 77 = Thomas Hesketh). T H Close to the angle with the crosswing are the present front door (giving onto a passage which was probably originally open) and a 1st floor cross window with a hoodmould, the right end of which is covered by the side wall of the east wing. The wing has two 3-light double-chamfered stone mullion windows with hoodmoulds in this side (one each floor), and similar windows in the other walls: in the gable, 2 of 4 lights; in the side wall 5 and 4 lights at ground floor and 2,4 and 4 lights at 1st floor; together with small firewindows on each floor at the junction of 2nd and 3rd bays, and at the end of the 3rd bay. Projecting from 1st bay on this side is a large chimney stack, top rebuilt, which has some corbelling in the masonry at ground floor level. Rear of this wing has part-projecting chimney stack. Rear of service wing has at 1st floor a window with 2 cusped lights, mullioned windows above and below this. The 2 wings are linked by a short 2-storey wall which is not tied in. Interior: in the screen passage, 2 pointed-arch chamfered doorways (remains of a 3rd blocked, also visible) to service wing, and in the opposite wall of this wing 2 low and wide doorways (apparently external doors into originally open passageway between service wing and detached kitchen). East wing contains timber framing of medieval building including stone plinth, timber sill, wall posts, box framing braced at the top level, at least 2 kingpost roof trusses with raking struts; and evidence of a smoke bay. There is a very large stone arched fireplace below this (formerly supported by an external buttress). The structure has 1st floor joists laid on top of the principal rails, suggesting that the upper floor was a later insertion. (VCH Lancs; Pevsner; Ainsworth Homesteads pp.344-8; Louie Pollard Great Harwood Gleanings, pp. 27-32).

Listing NGR: SD7528033809

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

183875

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pollard, L, Great Harwood Gleanings, (), 27-32
Ainsworth, R, The Old Homesteads of Accrington and District, (1928), 344-8
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: South Lancashire, (1969)

End of official list entry

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