Building record 200/1 - Crewe Hall

<1> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 1138666 (Report). SCH1934.

Jacobean Mansion, 1615-36 for Sir Randolph Crewe (Pevsner). West service wing added circa 1800, for the first Baron Crewe. 1830-1840 restoration by Blore for the third Baron. Gutted by fire in 1866 and rebuilt by E M Barry 1870. Further alteration by Thomas Bower in 1896.

Red brick with stone dressings, lead and slate roof. 2 storeys, basement and attic. The south entrance front consists of 2 facades of 7 bays of. which the western steps forward of the line of the eastern by 2 bays. There is a further single storey built against the west return. The walls of the original Jacobean east wing survived the fire; these are fronted by a wide paved area and balustrade with lions on alternate piers and griffin and lion flanking steps to main entrance.

The entrance bay is of stone, set forward, and has semicircular arched opening flanked by fluted Ionic columns on strap decorated bases. Above there are tapering Jacobean pilasters, flanking a 3-light window, and supporting a full width strapwork cartouche. The stone dressed window above supports the balustraded parapet and achievement cresting. The porch is flanked by pairs of single mullion double transome stone dressed windows in diaper work walls and the bays at the east corner and west wing are canted 2 storey bay windows with shaped gables to the attic windows above and behind the balustraded eaves parapet. The west wing is plainer with a single two storey canted bay window, surmounted by shaped gable, flanked by pairs of single mullion double transome windows and a first floor oriel midway between similar windows in the west bays. All quoins have flush stone dressing and there is a full length cornice at first floor window head level and full length eaves parapet. The east end has four 2-storey canted bay windows with shaped gables to the end bays.

The north garden front is the reverse of the facade with the east wing forward. This has an elaborate 2-storey segmental bay, which is the chapel apse at ground floor level, with solid cartouche decorated stone panels below cusp headed stained glass lights. The rear is dominated by a square stone dressed brick tower with ogee roof and corner chimney pinnacles which rises two storeys above the main roof of the Hall. The west wing has an arcaded loggia with blind arcaded rear wall, vaulted ceiling and three Tuscan columns.

Interior: The interest is in the east wing. The South West room, the "Oak Parlour" has the only original Jacobean chimney piece with "Green Men" and similar carving of the period; this contrasts unfavourably with the high quality of workmanship achieved under the direction of the C19 architects.

The Entrance Hall has an elaborate marble chimney piece with Tuscan columns, pediment and the Crewe Arms. There are oak panelled walls and a timber panelled ceiling. A triple archivalt plastered arcade, flanked and divided by marble Tuscan columns and fluted pilasters, leads to a central hall, with panelling and columns to four sides forming a cloister arrangement with mezzanine level timber balustraded gallery over. Columns at gallery level support hammer beams and elaborate arched trusses supporting a lantern light. The chapel is north of the central hall. The apsidal chancel is of marble with miniature Corinthian arcade with alabaster heads of prophets and Evangelists. There is an elaborate carved altar rail with opening flanked by angels, benches with carved backs and poppyheads and wall panelling with bronze medallions of biblical characters in each panel. The entrance to the ornate choir gallery is from the mezzanine gallery of the central hall. The open newel staircase, east of the central hall, is approached by short flights from east and west and has fluted strings, strapwork, carved animal newel caps and other high quality carving. The carved parlour has oak panelling and an alabaster chimney piece with "Time rewarding Industry and punishing sloth" surmounted by a broken pediment with the head of Sir Randolph Crewe. The room has a dentil and egg and dart cornice and deep plaster frieze with figures representing the elements, graces and virtues. The upper floor has a vaulted gallery round the central hall with much elaborate plasterwork. The Library has Corinthian columns flanking the chimney piece, scenes in the frieze and a high quality ceiling with pendants. The Drawing Room has panelling, Corinthian pilasters, marble chimney piece, doors with lavish cases and a ceiling with strapwork and pendants. The Long Gallery has Corinthian pilasters and a modillion cornice. All rooms in the east wing generally have chimney pieces, doors and door cases of a high standard and ceilings based on strapwork, but they all have their own individual character. A fine house splendidly recast in C19.

<2> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /191-4 (Book). SCH3078.

<3> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 3/310-2 1882 (Book). SCH1389.

Engraving of the Hall featured, a facsimile of a plate in (7)

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, Waggott T 1964 SJ75SW1 (Index). SCH2487.

Crewe Hall was built by Sir Randolph Crewe, the building taking from 1615 to 1636. In 1866 it was mostly burned down and the present hall is a rebuilding of the previous one , and mainly in the style of it. (8)

Ormerod (3) shows and illustration of the house before the fire from the NE as well as a vignette of the SE front, which shows, to the left of a vignette of the SE front, which shows, to the left of the house, the manor house of the Fullehursts, who owned Crewe in the 16th c. "It is apparently an early Tudor Mansion, with a high pitched roof an handsome stack of Chimneys" (5). The Vignette also shows, in the foreground a strip of water which may be part of a moat surrounding the earlier house. A chapel in Crewe Hall was consecrated on 9th August 1635 [Field Investigator (FI) notes 18/05/60]

Careful comparison of the present building with illustrations of the origianl, particulalry that facing p.325 of Hinchliffes "Barthomley" 1856. shows that the shell of the 1615-36 building sirvived the fire o 1866. Apart from he new roof and chimneys and restoration of some stone window mullions, the exterior appears to be the original structure.

Extensions to the west side of the south face are built in a similar style to the original, but although known to be later, cannot be accurately dated. No trace was found of the moat [FI Notes, 23/09/1960]

"Crewe Hall" is a good but not outstanding example of its period [FI Notes, 22/09/1964]

<5> Allen EW, 1871-3, The Antiquary, /146 1873 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3022.

<6> Harris J, 1979, The Artist and the Country House: A History of Country House and Garden View Painting in Britain, 1540-1870, /32, 97 (Book). SCH3049.

Crewe Hall, a Jacobean Courtier Mansion built 1615-1636 for Sir Randolph Crewe, Lord Chief Justice of England. Magnificent E-plan facade to house with courtyard plan originally. Classical and manorist detail throughout hall to right of central porch. Superb staircase beyond. Chapel is central to rear range and projects out of rear elevation. House undergone series of alterations and extensions. Firstly in C17.

Wencelaus Holler's view of Crewe Hall c.1655 shows a 'Dower House' to west of the hall, in area now occupied by service wing. This is a multi- gabled three-storey brick building with massive chimney stacks. The same view also shows the stable courtyard to the south-west of the hall

<7> King, D, Streater, J, Crew, R, Chaloner, J, Lee, S, Webb, W, Smith, W, 1656, The Vale-Royall of England, or, The County Palatine of Chester Illustrated, 2/75 (Book). SCH3248.

<8> IPC Media, 1897-Present, Country Life, /400-8 1902 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH993.

<9> de Figueiredo P & Treuherz J, 1988, Cheshire Country Houses, p.66-71 (Book). SCH785.

"Crewe Hall is a difficult house to comprehend. In essence it is Jacobean, one of the finest buildings of its date in England, but it is not known as such, for, extended in the late 18th century, modernised in 1837, and then substantially remodelled after a devastating fire in 1866, it has generally been regarded as Victorian. To the present-day visitor it is not only the quantity of Jacobean work remaining which is of interest, but also the creative quality of the Victorian reconstruction"

Painting of Crewe Hall from c1710 reproduced here. Detailed description of the architectural development of Crewe Hall

<10> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

The hall was built on the site of the manor house of the Foulehurst family. This was not the building suggested by Ormerod (3) and recorded on the OS record card. (4)This was the dower house.