Listed Building record MDR5179 - Unthank Hall, Unthank Lane, Holmesfield

Unthank Hall, Unthank Lane, Holmesfield, a late 16th century building. Unthank Hall is a large two-storey gabled house of rubble construction. It is of 16th/17th century date with an L-shaped front and a rear elevation in three parts, set back from left to right. (1, 2) 'Two-storeyed gabled house with mullioned windows and the remains of a once separate kitchen.' (3) 'Eight samples were taken from timbers relating to the king post roof, in order to carry out tree-ring dating. The results gave a felling date range of 1554 to 1579, with a likely felling date of 1564.' (4) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF HOLMESFIELD UNTHANK LANE SK 37 NW 5/166 31.1.67 Unthank Hall GV II* House. Late C16 or earlier, with C17 additions and C18 and C19 alterations. Coursed rubble coal measures sandstone with ashlar dressings, quoins, coped gables with moulded kneelers, ashlar gable stacks, and a stone slated roof. T-plan house, with additional gabled range to north-east. South-east elevation, with advanced gabled range to south-west end, and two bay range set back, with C19 timber cross windows in plain stone surrounds, and a stone framed doorway in the angle of the two ranges, with six panelled door and rectangular overlight with radiating glazing bars. Gabled range with two 2-light casement windows set in the moulded surrounds of former 2-light recessed chamfer mullioned windows. First floor has two single light windows with flush surround and plain band linking window heads. South west elevation with 2 and 3-light recessed chamfer mullioned windows. Rear gable to south west range has a 5-light recessed chamfer mullioned window to ground floor and two 2-light windows to first floor with dripmoulds above. North east elevation of rear range with a 4 and 3-light chamfer mullioned window to the first floor, a ground floor doorway with quoined surround, now blocked to form a window, and a lean-to addition with coped gable and re-used mullions to the window. Interior contains substantial areas of C17 decorative plasterwork in the first floor rooms, with moulded cornices, decorative friezes, an overmantle and an enriched beam soffit. The hearths to the ground floor rooms retain C17 surrounds, two with bolection moulds and cornices, whilst another has a cambered head to the hearth lintel, with a quoined surround. There are numerous exposed spine beams and oak joists. Unthank hall is said to have been the home of the Lowe family from the C17. Listing NGR: SK3070276072.' (5)