The Georgian Renovation of Middleton Hall

The Georgian Renovation of Middleton Hall was one of two major renovations in its history that completely changed its appearance. It began in 1707 and was not completed until 1762. This Renovation was started by Thomas Willoughby, 1st Lord Middleton, but he could only begin it with the permission of his mother Emma (nee Barnard) because Middleton Hall was still her dower house at that time. Neither Emma nor Thomas nor even Thomas’ son, Francis Willoughby 2nd Lord Middleton, lived to see the completion of the Renovation. It was Francis’ son, Francis Willoughby 3rd Lord Middleton, who finally completed it.

Thomas Willoughby, 1st Lord Middleton. Courtesy of Lord Middleton.

Typically, in a complete renovation, the existing structure was simply demolished and a new structure in the new fashion was built to replace it. This did not happen at Middleton Hall at any stage of its history, which has led to a very unique architectural construction. In the case of the Georgian Renovation, a new external appearance gave the impression that it was completely constructed in the fashion of the new style. This effect was primarily achieved through the application of lime plaster, the addition of new Georgian sash windows and the construction of hipped roofs. However, the lime plaster often hid old timber-framed walls, as can still be seen in the Great Hall today. Furthermore, the new hipped roofs were constructed over the top of two original roofs. These two roofs were the ones of the Chapel and the Stone Building and the old roofs were retained fully, complete with external tiles, beneath the new roofs.

One of the most interesting aspects of Middleton Hall’s Georgian Renovation is the recycling of the materials. In 1707, Thomas gave instructions for the demolition of the South and West Wings but he also specifically stated that all of the tiles, timber, brick chimneys, plaster, flooring, ironwork and pavements were to be taken down carefully, placed at a safe distance and sorted so that the materials could be used again. As the Renovation occurred in sections, this, with the assistance of information from the accounts, has made it possible to determine the order and rough date of each stage of this very complicated and extensive Renovation.

We know that it began with the Annexe and South Wing. Materials from the previous South Wing were used in the renovation and reconstruction of these structures and the building accounts indicate that it began in 1709 and was completed by 1717. The accounts also indicate that the renovation of the Tudor Barn, gardens and Coach House began in 1716, were undertaken in that order and were completed by 1722.

In 1717, the renovation of the Great Hall and the East Wing structures began but it was not completed until about 1740. It began with the Great Hall, which still today contains many timbers from the demolished South and West Wings. Next was the Jettied Building in which timbers from the Great Hall were re-used. It is believed that the renovation of this Building occurred in 1721 due to a Georgian stylistic plaster match with the Coach House, which has a dated renovation of 1721 from the casting of its new bell. Next was the John Ray Building, which is thought to have been renovated in about 1725. Then came the renovation of the Stone Building, which re-used timber originally from the John Ray Building and is thought to have occurred in about 1730. After that, all of the small structures between the Great Hall and the East Wing were either constructed or renovated and it was only after this was completed that the Great Hall renovation was finally finished.

There was then a hiatus in the Renovation for about 16 years, with the final stage beginning in 1756 and concluding in 1762. This stage involved the renovation of the Chapel and the reconstruction of the West Wing. As a result of the length of time that the Georgian Renovation took, the Georgian architectural fashion style had changed and these buildings had a different Georgian style for their plasterwork, namely that of the Palladian style.

Part of an 18th century painting of Middleton Hall, showing the Coach House, Tudor Barn and the main Hall from the west in their new Georgian form. Courtesy of Lord Middleton.

Author - Debbie Jordan, Middleton Hall Volunteer.

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