Entrance Hall (Unblocking of door)

Opening of the door to the Dining Room G4 from the Hall G3.

A Brief History

1740s Originally a door connecting the dining room to the hall (door opening is clearly blocked up behind G3/D3).


By 1819 Blocked doorway, backed with sideboard in dining room set against flat wall.

1828  Shallow-arched sideboard recess illustrated at both ends of dining room cut into the existing walls and extended by a 9" projection to form a sideboard bay at each end of the room.  Assumed to be finished in plaster cornice and skirting carrying around the bay, chair rail stopping either side against the supporting pilasters.

@1840  Illustrated as closed sideboard recess either end of dining room.

Mid 19th Century section Flitcroft modillon cornice illustrated in dining room.

early 20th Century Dining room lined with timber panelling and sideboard recess dressed accordingly.
Mahogany doorleaf G3/d3 assumed to be introduction by Cowtan (unfinished on rear face.)  (Flitcroft doors are painted and not enriched, as at G2/d2.)

What's to do

Remove sideboard in north alcove and take out central panel of wainscot.

Remove doorleaf G3/d3 (single-faced door) and set aside for resuse.

Open up blocked doorway between G3/d3 and Dining Room.

Fit new doorframe and lining at G3/d3-G4/d3.

Fit double-faced mahogany doorleaf (from G14/d2) at G3/d2.

Fit new door, architrave and entablature to match G4/d2 as new door G4/03.

Make good panelling extending dado to areas presently concealed by sideboard.

The reopening of the doorway recovers the early relationship between the entrance and the dining room (the original Hall), and regains the alignment of rooms through the west range.  It also allows a more direct connection between the Entrance Hall G3 and the Dining Room G4 which is used for events.

Entrance Hall (removal of display cupboards)

Removal of glazed display cupboards in Entrance Hall G3.

A Brief History

1740s - Blind archways form part of Flitcroft’s recasting of the entrance hall (Flitcroft dwgs
NRO).

Mid 19th Century illustrated as blind archways  (Habershon).

By 1942 insertion of glazed cupboards in blind archways in north wall (survey: 1942 NRO).

1980 Reception counter constructed in front of north archway as part of proposed country club (Since removed).

What's to do

Removal of 20th Century insertions and reinstatement as blind archways.

Entrance Hall (restoration of plasterwork)

Restoration of Plasterwork in Entrance Hall G3.

A Brief History

1740s - Hall created by Flitcroft with incorporation of additional bay to screens passage from room on either side.

Ceiling Flitcroft early 20th Century addition of circular garland in 17th Century style to central rose.

What's to do

Removal of later enrichment.

Pictures

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