Listed Building record MDR4448 - Melbourne Hall, Blackwell Lane, Melbourne

Melbourne Hall, Blackwell Lane, Melbourne, originally a 16th century building. 'Melbourne Hall, a two-storeyed stone mansion whose architectural details reveal four building phases, the earliest visible being the 16th or early 17th century mullioned and transomed windows on the north and west sides. The north and west wings are the remains of an L-shaped manor house leased from the Bishops of Carlisle by John Coke who converted it into a private house in 1630. Between 1708 and 1710 the dovecote and laundry were built to the north of the house. From 1720-27 Melbourne Hall was altered to match new Georgian extensions. The east wing of rough stonework was added in 1725-6 by Francis Smith of Warwick and in 1744 the east front was built by William Smith. Grade II*. The associated gardens were first extended in about 1690 and remodelled in 1704.' (1-2) 'The site of the current Melbourne Hall was part of a royal manor that was granted to the bishopric of Carlisle in the 12th or 13th century. It was used by the bishops as a refuge until the 15th century, from which time it was leased out. Sir John Coke took over the leasehold in 1629 and the freehold was obtained by his grandson, the Rt Hon Thomas Coke in 1704.' (3) 'Melbourne Hall is thought to have been the site of a bishop's palace that was possibly built in the 13th century and used by the Bishops of Carlisle as a refuge from the border troubles. It was leased out from the early 16th century, if not before. The building was in poor condition by the 1590s, at which time it is said to have been rebuilt by Sir Frances Needham. However, there is no evidence that it was entirely rebuilt, as the existence of a very irregular floorplan made in c1710 indicates that this rebuilding was only partial. Sir Bishop of Carlisle carried out a substantial phase of rebuilding between 1629-31, as part of which he obtained permission from the Earl of Huntingdon, lord of the manor, to quarry stone from the foundations of Melbourne Castle.' (4) 'The Right Hon. Viscount Lord Melbourne on Melbourne Hall: "The Capital Mansion House called Melbourne Hall contains on the ground floor an entrance hall with a handsome staircase to the Chamber Story- a Drawing, Dining, Breakfast and Billiard Rooms- Library and Small Dressing Room adjoining House-keepers Room with Store Room- Kitchen- Scullery, Pantries and Servants Hall- underneath part of the house is a Butler's Pantry- Wine- Ale and Small Beer Cellars. On the Chamber Storey are 11 Bed and 2 Dressing Rooms with Closets and in the Attics- are 17 Bedrooms and Closets. In the back yard is a Larder, Brewhouse, Wash House and Bakehouse with Laundary over both, a low range of Buildings containing a Woodhouse, Paint-house, Carpenters Shop- Ash house etc. In the stable yard are two Coach-houses for 4 Carriages, three bailed Stables for 11 Horses, and two Stalled Stables for 5 horses, with Chambers over for Hay- Corn etc and a Porters Lodge adjoining the Stables. In the pleasure gound is a Summer House called the Library- and a Gardener's House for Tools etc- with Chamber over it. These buildings are part stone, part brick walls, part tiled, part sltaed and want repairing.' (5) From the National Heritage List for England: 'SK 38/3925 PARISH OF MELBOURNE CHURCH CLOSE 6/58 (East Side) 2.9.52 Melbourne Hall GV II* Country house. C16, c1630, altered between 1720 and 1727 with most alterations carried out between 1725 and 1726 and designed by Francis Smith of Warwick, east or garden front designed by William Smith in 1744, also with minor later alterations and some early C20 additions. Ashlar garden front and rubble stone with flush quoins to other elevations. Hipped graduated Westmorland slate roof with lead flashing and large rendered ridge stacks, also external stone stack to north elevation. Two storeys plus attics and half H-plan with seven bay garden elevation and six bay south elevation. Entrance front to south has a deeply recessed centre part, plain first floor band and plain parapets above a moulded cornice. Western bays have two glazing bar sashes in early C18 surrounds with raised fillet to the edge and a raised keystone, and eastern bays have similar window to east and C20 double glazed doors in similar surround to west. Recessed part to centre has been rendered and mostly glazed in with a conservatory in early C20. To either side there are three moulded doorcases with pulvinated friezes, raised corniced keystones and moulded cornices and to centre there is a Gibbs surround doorcase with pulvinated frieze and triangular pediment with central circle, flanked by glazing bar sashes, similar to those to western bays. Above there are ten similar sashes to those below, two to each of the advanced side bays, two to centre bay with two more to each side. Between the windows on the advanced bays and to either side of the well there are fine early C18 hopper heads decorated with the Coke achievement. Above again there are six hipped roof dormers with small paned casements. Garden front has a plain first floor band, moulded bracketed stone cornice with plain parapets above and three centre bays advanced. Central Gibbs surround doorcase with pulvinated frieze and triangular pediment has C20 double glazed doors and a divided overlight. To either side there are three glazing bar sashes in Gibbs surrounds. Above there are seven more sashes in moulded shouldered surrounds on moulded consoles with raised keyblocks. Three central bays have a moulded pediment with central cartouche flanked by swags. West elevation is L-plan, with cross timber casement windows in raised plain surrounds plus raised keyblocks, to ground and first floor. Plain eaves band over with plain parapets and hipped roof dormers. On north face of advanced western bay there is a moulded early C18 doorcase with bracketed stone hood, and panelled door below a divided overlight. North elevation is irregular with C19 and C20 additions to ground floor on west side and early C17 mullion and transomed windows with dripmoulds to east. Interior has a wide early C18 open well staircase with three knopped balusters per tread, that to centre twisted, the others plain, scrolled cheekpieces and panelling to dado height on the opposite wall, plus a plasterwork ceiling above. The hall also has a coloured marble bolection moulded fireplace and moulded cornicing. South room has early C18 panelling with corniced doorcases and contemporary carved marble fireplace. Similar panelling to northern room and other ground floor rooms. Dining room has re-set late C16 or early C17 panelling with fluted frieze to top and a C18 marble fireplace with oak overmantle carved with a central achievement set in strapwork surround and fluted pilasters to sides. The date 1596 has been painted on. Upper rooms have original C18 panelled doors and some C18 fireplaces. West wing has one coloured marble bolection moulded fireplace and a stone spiral staircase. The house was originally a rectory which was converted into a private house in 1630 by Sir John Coke, Secretary of State to Charles I, and altered by Thomas Coke, Vice Chamberlain to Queen Anne and George I, in early C18. It has also been the home of Lord Melbourne, the first Prime Minister to Queen Victoria (1837-1841) and his wife Lady Caroline Lamb, the authoress. Richard Baxter (1615-1691) began his 'Saints Everlasting Rest' here. Sources see J J Briggs 'History of Melbourne' 1852, Historic Manuscripts Commission, Papers at Melbourne Hall. Listing NGR: SK3897625010.' (6)