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© Dr Andrew White

IoE Number: 182352
Location: THURLAND CASTLE,
  CANTSFIELD, LANCASTER, LANCASHIRE
Photographer: Dr Andrew White
Date Photographed: 10 June 2005
Date listed: 04 October 1967
Date of last amendment: 04 October 1967
Grade II*

CANTSFIELDSD 67 SW5/57Thurland Castle4-10-1967

CANTSFIELD SD 67 SW 5/57 Thurland Castle 4-10-1967 GV II* Large house, mainly 1880s by Paley and Austin, but with earlier remains. The earliest remains are C14th. In 1643 it was made ruinous following a Civil War siege. It was restored in 1809 by Jeffrey Wyatt and in 1829 by Webster. In 1879 it was gutted by fire and had to be rebuilt, although many of the old walls were retained. Sandstone rubble with slate roofs. Comprises 2 ranges, forming the north and west sides of a courtyard and meeting at an acute angle. The windows are mullioned or mullioned and transomed and appear to date from the l880s. At the left side of the south wall of the north range is a 3-storey tower with embattled parapet and corner turret, said to be added by Wyatt. To the right this facade is of 2 storeys with attic and 2 bays, with paired windows in each bay on the 1st floor. Between bays is a doorway of early C14th type, with a cusped pointed arch and with worn carved ornament on the jambs. This is thought to have opened into the hall, which was at the right-hand end of this range. The west wall of the east range has a stair window with 3 transoms to the left, a 2-storey canted section, and a tower of 2 storeys with a blank upper stage and an embattled parapet. To the right a single-storey porch and billiard room with embattled parapets project forwards in front of Webster's additions. The porch is of ashlar and has diagonal buttresses and a pointed doorway. Above is a 2-light window with pointed head. To the right the billiard room is lit by paired cross windows with trefoiled lights. The north and east facades,facing outwards towards the moat, exploit the complex history of rebuilding to produce an irregular composition. Interior. Many of the ground-floor rooms are panelled to dado height and have ribbed plaster ceilings. The drawing room, at the south end of the east range, has 2 bay windows with armorial glass in the upper lights, and a marble fireplace and overmantel in a Gothic style within a panelled recess.The dining room, towards the north end of this range, has a timber fireplace surround and an overmantel whose central panel is carved with a shield of arms with crest and motto. The stair, also in this range, has a closed string and turned balusters. On the 1st floor, at the north-east angle of the house, is the library, which has walls of sandstone ashlar above oak panelling and has fitted oak bookshelves. At its northern end is an oriel window. At the south is a fireplace recess with moulded arch, and carved decoration, including an armorial panel over the fireplace. On the west side a dividing wall is pierced by a wide moulded Tudor arch with ribbed panels on the soffit. VCH Vol.8, pp 235-237.