Thorpe Hall

Thorpe Hall at Longthorpe in the city of Peterborough, Cambridgeshire is a Grade I listed building, [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Thorpe Hall TF 1901 13/57 7.2.52. I GV 2] built by Peter Mills between 1653 and 1656, for the Lord Chief Justice Oliver St. John. A maternity hospital from 1943 to 1970, it was transferred to the National Health Service in 1948, coming under No. 12 Group (Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Management Committee) of the East Anglian Regional Hospitals Board. [Beatty, Gwendoline Peterborough and District War Memorial Hospital 1928–1968 in "Peterborough's Past" vol.3 (pp.45-56) Peterborough Museum Society, 1988] In 1986 it was acquired by the Sue Ryder Foundation and is currently in use as a hospice. The house is unusual in being one of the very few mansions built during the Commonwealth period. [Brandon, David and Knight, John "Peterborough Past: The City and The Soke" (p.17) Phillimore & Co., Chichester, 2001]

While Parliamentary soldiers were in Peterborough in 1643 during the civil war, they ransacked the cathedral, destroying the high altar and choir stalls, as well as mediæval decoration and records. Parliament disposed of Church property to raise money for the army and navy and Oliver St. John, who supported Parliament, bought the lease to the manor of Longthorpe and built Thorpe Hall. In 1654 it was described by the author John Evelyn as "a stately place...built out of the ruins of the Bishop's Palace and cloisters." [Davies, Elizabeth et al. [http://www.peterborough.gov.uk/page-9568 Civil war and a return to peace] "Peterborough: A Story of City and Country, People and Places" (pp.18-19) Peterborough City Council and Pitkin Unichrome, 2001]

A symmetrical composition in ashlar, rusticated quoins, with square, groups of rusticated chimney shafts; the north and south elevations are identical, three dormers, casements under pediments, the centre one semi-circular. A stone slate roof overhangs on modillions. There are seven windows, with plain stone surrounds to top and ground floors. The porch with Tucan columns supports a balcony. The balcony window on the first floor has a segmental pediment and shouldered architrave. The windows of the second and sixth bays have pediments, while the others have frieze and moulded cornice. A band marks first floor height. There is a flight of eight steps with balustrade supporting two urns. The interior is complete, except for library panelling now at Leeds Castle. Principal rooms have richly decorated fireplaces and plaster ceilings by Peter Mills. The principal staircase has heavily carved foliated open panels to broad balustrade. A stone screen on the landing was added in 1850 by Francis Riddle of Peterborough. [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49711&mode=quick Images of England No. 49711] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 27 January 2008). See also "Country Life" XVL (p.234) 1904, XLVI (pp.300, 330 & 364) 1919]

Thorpe Hall is situated in a Grade II listed garden that is open to members of the public throughout the year. The curved walls forming the entrance courtyard, gatepiers and entrance gates, [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Walls, gatepiers & entrance gates to Thorpe Hall TL 1798 13/57C 7.5.73. I GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49712&mode=quick Images of England No. 49712] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] former stables to the right, [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Former stables to Thorpe Hall TL 1698 13/57A TL 1798 13/57A 7.2.52. I GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49713&mode=quick Images of England No. 49713] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] and a shouldered stone architrave gateway flanked by vertically halved pilasters with volutes [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Gateway from garden to stables of Thorpe Hall TL 1698 13/57E 7.2.52. I GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49715&mode=quick Images of England No. 49715] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] are also Grade I listed buildings. The late nineteenth century lodge, [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Lodge to Thorpe Hall TL 1698 13/246 7.5.73. II GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49717&mode=quick Images of England No. 49717] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] octagonal summerhouse in red brick with fish scale slate roof, [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Summmerhouse in grounds of Thorpe Hall TL 1698 13/57D 7.5.73. II GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49716&mode=quick Images of England No. 49716] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] and a free-standing archway resembling a Venetian window in design [LONGTHORPE 1. 1500 Archway in garden of Thorpe Hall to the south west TL 1698 11/57B 7.5.73. II GV 2, see [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=49714&mode=quick Images of England No. 49714] National Monuments Record, English Heritage (retrieved 28 January 2008)] are Grade II listed buildings.

References

ee also

*Longthorpe Tower

External links

* [http://www.suerydercare.org/thorpehallhospice/ Thorpe Hall Hospice]