Description

NZ 62 SE SKELTON & BROTTON SALTBURN LANE
(off west side,) Skelton

1/36 Rushpool Hall
8.10.75
G.V. II*

Mansion, now hotel, 1862-63, for John Bell, ironmaster. Interior partly
remodelled after fire damage 1904/05, by T.M. Bottomley (Middlesbrough).
Rockfaced Cleveland ironstone with sandstone ashlar dressings inlaid with
slate ornament. Plain clay tiled roofs. High Victorian Gothic. 2 storeys
and attic. Asymmetrical; 5 bays to entrance front (south). The middle bay
a projecting 3-stage tower over porch, with round-headed doorway in
chamfered, pointed opening with foliate capitals to responds. Ornate metal
lanterns on posts flank the doorway. Oriel window to middle stage, enriched
with carving. Tripartite upper-stage windows. Crocketed finials at angles
of straight parapet, and metal ridge cresting on tall hipped roof. Coupled
octagonal stacks at north-east angle. 2-storey canted bay window to
left-end bay. All windows grouped pointed sashes. Ornamental shields
above ground-floor windows, quatrefoils above first-floor windows. Sill
strings and string courses between floors. Straight parapet; crowstepped
gable to right end. Steeply-pitched hipped and gabled roofs have tall
stacks and enriched roof dormers of varied form. Lower 2-storey service
wing, adjoining right end is similar, with 6 pointed openings (middle 2
blank) below canted first-floor oriel. Straight parapet, ornamented stack
at right end, and enriched roof dormers. 4-bay garden front (north) has
tripartite windows on each floor, except for wider 2-storey half-octagonal
right-hand bay with roof dormers to half-pyramidal roof. Chamfered left
angle has first-floor balcony with pierced front. Circular 3-stage tower
adjoins north-west angle, and has broad bands between stages, bracketed,
pierced parapet, and tall conical roof with gablets. Renewed conservatory
in keeping adjoins west end, To west of mansion: retaining wall of
terrace with pierced parapet, gargoyles, and stair flights
at north and south ends, forms frontage to basement Roman bath and contains
remains of grotto with quasi-Tuscan columns at south end. Well-preserved
interior retains large staircase hall with open stair and gallery, and
baroque fireplace of 1897; panelled ceilings with thick raised borders and
ornamented cornices. Series of Moorish arches lead to conservatory
retaining original tiled pavement. Oak-panelled first-floor billiard room;
many carved marble fireplaces retained throughout. Modern fittings blend
with original. Tiled Roman bath with ancilliary rooms, at lower level
beneath terrace and conservatory.

Listing NGR: NZ6654420541

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17534197

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)