RESTORATION OF WINDOWS

 

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North Elevation

 

The north windows of the Oak Room G1 are blocked with ashlar set between the 1630s stone mullions. The windows are shown as still open in 1819, blocked by 1942. The modification of the panelling in the Oak Room to extend it over the windows suggests an 20th Century intervention.

The alteration restores the house to its earlier form and recovers the dual aspect of the Oak Room.

 

West Elevation

 

The windows generally of 1630s with 18th Century alteration to replace leaded lights with timber casements. The replacement of the casements with plate glass relates to rooms redecorated by Cowtan & Son around 1900.

The reinstatement of the timber frames in place of the plate glass recovers a consistent elevation of an earlier form.

 

 

South Elevation

 

The basic structure of the 1630s house was altered in the 1740s and late 18th Century to provide sash windows in the principal reception rooms. Later modification replaced sashes without astragals about 1900.

 

 

Courtyard Elevations

The courtyard gives the date of construction on both of its monumental chimneystacks C3 and C11. Each is inscribed 1635, but the cutting of the lettering suggests a different mason working on each stack. The east range is of the same build, but modified when Sir Thomas Powys acquired Lilford with alteration of the steps and details of the door to the East Entrance G14/d1. The roof timbers indicate modification and it is possible the east range was gabled when first constructed and that the lead flats date from the “extensive alterations” of 1717.

The east ends of the north and south ranges have been extended progressively over the years. A two storey extension to the north range was constructed by Sir Thomas and an additional storey was added at the beginning of the 19th Century. Two further storeys provided yet more service accommodation in 1909. A music room was added to the south range by 1819, it was modified in 1857, and two storeys of additional bedrooms were constructed over it in 1909.

At the junction of the north and south ranges with the east range, windows were modified at first floor level to provide water closets spanning the recess between the great chimneys C3 and C11 and the east range. These were in place by 1843 and are likely to date from the modernisation of the house at the beginning of the 19th Century.

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