A delightful Italianate style house with an air of decaying elegance, it has been left empty and derelict even though it's a Grade II listed building. Built in the late 18th century, and later extended around 1900, it comprises varying heights of one, two and three storeys, and has some lovely features including a stone balustrade above the ground floor front, an arched portico at the entrance and a rather grand square tower. I love the blending of the red brick and the stone quoins & dressings, the exterior brickwork having faded in parts to a soft orangey-pink.
This was the second explore during the Urbex Meet-Up in July 2007 (please see the previous post for the first one).
Interesting remains inside include 18th century staircases, panelling in some of the rooms and carved wood chimneypieces in the Jacobean style. The front room, in the photos below, also contain paired Doric columns and interior arched windows. There was also a rather grand fireplace, but I was unable to pick out any details as the photos were taken from outside looking in through the unglazed windows.
Above; the panelling and free-standing columns. Below shows the arched windows and screen containing paired columns in relief, called pilasters.
The fireplace, below.
The photo below shows a combination of stately home and red brick industrial, which always makes me think of a Shakespearean play set in a factory. ;)
There were 12 households in the village of Stallington during 1881 when the census wes taken, included Stallington Hall (originally known as Stallington Grange), being then described as a fine red brick building standing in its own parkland and having extensive views over the surrounding countryside. It was occupied by the MP for North Staffordshire, Sir Bart Smith Child, his wife Sarah, daughter Elizabeth and eleven staff. After his death in 1896, his grandson Hill Child inherited the Baronetcy as well as Stallington Hall. He sold Stallington Hall to the City of Stoke-on-Trent in 1928, after which it was then used as a hospital for mentally ill adults and children.
I had a wander around the left side in what remained of the overgrown garden. I didn't get any photos as it really was nothing more than a lawn badly in need of a mow, with tussocks that the unwary can trip over.
The metal stairs outside were presumably added when it later became a hospital.
The photos below are of a side entrance on the right, with a rather hairy 2ft jump across an open basement, which I surprised myself by doing. Unfortunately, the steep climb down to the access inside proved too difficult for me, so I just wandered around taking photos outside. I really enjoyed it though, as I often prefer the exterior of buildings than the interior, and it was one of my favourite places to visit.
And finally, a view through the fence to what was also once part of the grounds.
And a slightly different view of the front.
The third stop on our tour was Simpson's Potters - another great explore - coming up next!
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