The grounds are particularly supportive of the Hall’s activities providing privacy, a stimulating environment and the facility for fieldwork or browsing.

The Hall and the grounds are presented with the highest standards of care as it is the belief of the staff that this in itself influences the attitudes of visiting participants and supports the intentions of the providers of the course or conference.

Users of the College invariably comment favourably upon the surroundings, accommodation, and the attitude of the staff and it is believed that the pride and care which is taken in the presentation of the institution is a valuable attribute to any course.

What to look for during your visit

Masonry Marks

Masonry Marks are to be seen on many parts of the building, as, for example, on the right hand corner of the portico (main entrance).

Original Entrance

The original entrance was through the double doors in the centre of the portico.

Dining Room

This was in what is now the Music Room and was built to ‘fill in’ the northern hollow of the original H shaped building. The bay was added to the room in about 1800.

Drawing Room

The Drawing Room is now the Conference Room and was built on the site of the Chapel. Its windows face directly south and west to benefit from the best of the sunlight. The ‘Display Room’ (vestibule) was built to link the room with the New Conference Room.

Stable Block

The Stable Block was completed in 1810 in local sandstone, with the exception of the centre of the one storey building which is of millstone grit. Alongside this building is a mounting stone with a kennel beneath. The main building has a bell tower with a striking clock. Two of the faces of the clock only have the hour hand. They faced the fields in which employees were working!

Weather Vane

This is mounted on the clock tower and takes the form of a Griffin which was adopted by the Wentworth family as their emblem.

The Griffin is a mythical beast which is an eagle at the front and a lion at the rear. Winged Griffins are female and this one cost £3.1 3s. 6d. in 1810!

Ha Ha

The house is protected to the north and west by a ditch which is up to 10 feet deep and 15 feet wide with a vertical stone wall on the side nearest to the house. Its purpose was to prevent grazing animals from encroaching onto the gardens without detracting from the view from the house windows.

Fencing

To the rear of the modern boiler house there is a short length of wrought iron fencing which at one time protected the house on the south side. This fence can be seen on some of the oldest prints of the house.

Stream

A stream rises above the village and flows through culverts in front of the Hall. It used to drive machinery in Home Farm, was a fire fighting reservoir and provided ice in winter for the Ice House.

Ice House

This is situated 100 metres from the house on the farmer’s land. Most large houses had Ice Houses prior to refrigeration and were used to preserve carcasses in a mixture of ice and straw. The house is made of brick and is shaped like an inverted dome covered by another dome. It is partially below ground level and is completely covered by a mound of earth except for a narrow entrance.

Walled Garden

The walled garden is surrounded by a high thick brick wall which contains heated flues. This enabled the gardeners to grow figs, peaches and other fruit alongside the wall. It is capped by sandstone blocks which are shaped to divert the rain.

Church Path

Just beyond the greenhouses is a straight path which crosses the present (new 1809) road and then continues along a lime tree avenue to the ancient village Church. The ‘old’ road crosses the College drive some 100 metres into the grounds.

Accounts

The chain moulding around the architraves and shutters cost 1s.9d. (8p) per foot in 1800. The staircase cost £40, is made of 1 inch Norwegian Oak planking at 2s. (10p) per foot

Fireplaces

In the main hall there is an 18th century Neo classical surround probably moved from the library. It has engaged Roman ionic columns, and a frieze with carved tablet decorated with the arts of reading.

The Music Room (former Dining Room) has a Neo-Classical fireplace possibly removed from Hickleton Hall.

The New Conference Room has an Italian marble fireplace with eared surround, the Board Room (former Billiard Room) has an 18th century fireplace with fluted frieze decorated with urns whilst that in the Conference Room (Drawing Room) has fluted Doric columns and steel/brass fittings.