Charnwood Borough Council

Mansion of 1842-53 by William Railton for W Perry Herrick. Red brick in Jacobean style of highest quality workmanship outside and in. Stone dressings, plinth, band, frieze and dentilled cornice, and parapet coping. Carved and pierced stone balustrade panels in part as well as urns between stone coped Dutch gables. Plain tile roof and tall brick stacks in clusters of several flues with partly carved stone bases, banding and tops. Two storeys and attic of mullion and transom sash windows with stone surrounds and architraves. Symmetrical entrance front of three large gables, the central projecting slightly. Here a round arched doorway with rusticated stone surround. The keystone is the pendant of half round stone oriel window above. A 3 light both floors either side and a 5 light with 4 light above in side gables. A 2 light in attics. Five stone steps lead up to pair of richly carved oak doors. Subsidiary range to right of 3« storeys. Similar 2, 3 and 4 light windows, door and 3 Dutch gables. The avenue front to left of 5 windows; the central a two storey square bay of 5 light below, 4 above with single side lights. A 2 light either side, lower left blocked, and either end canted two storey bays of 4 lights and side lights. Strapwork stone carving over bays and central gable richly carved with caryatids, volutes, etc. A gable with 2 light either side and pierced balustrading in between. Garden front to rear has flight of stone steps with elaborately carved stone urn either side leading up to central round arched doorway with side lights and oriel over. The gable to left has a 2 light either side of a two storey canted 4 light bay with side lights. Gable to right has similar bay only. Carved tops to bays and pierced balustrade between gables with 2 lights. Lower subsidiary range to left of two storeys with basement and attic of 2, 3 and 4 light similar windows and 4 gables. Courtyard front to right of entrance of three storeys, four 8/8 sashes and large mullion and transom window to right and doors. Small interior court in centre of house with similar windows. Interior: entrance vestibule with richly carved stone fireplace displaying Herrick arms amid strapwork over mantle. Carved oak panelled ceiling, frieze, dado and door and window surrounds. Beyond a magnificent two storey staircase hall with Imperial staircase. Richly carved oak balustrading continues round gallery on three sides. Above an elaborately panelled ceiling dated 1853 with strapwork and pendants. At the head of first flight of stairs a large contemporary window of 7x3 lights of stained and painted armorial glass by Warrington of London. Between hall and garden front vestibule a richly carved stone arch. Facing the avenue and garden fronts a series of reception rooms with rich strapwork ceilings and friezes, carved oak door and window surrounds, marble fireplaces, walnut bookcases in one room, carved pelments in another. Similar simpler decoration on first floor but here a room, with carved oak fireplace, strapwork ceiling and stained glass in window, designed for bed thought to be associated with Richard III. The mansion was the seat of the Herrick family for 300 years from 1595, the previous building dating from C13 having been visited by Richard II the home of the Duchess of Suffolk, mother of Lady Jane Grey. The avenue or S front closely resembles a drawing of the S front as refaced c1615 by Sir William Herrick and it is almost certain that Railton was ?recreating? this house demolished in 1726. It is his only complete country house design to remain unaltered. Beaumanor, which is the estate house for Woodhouse, is an important landmark. Railton also designed nearby Church of St Paul, Woodhouse Eaves, (listed separately). Drinkall P., A Brief History of Beaumanor Hall and Park, Leicester, 1978, Colvin.