Davenham Hall

Davenham Hall is a former country house to the southeast of the village of Davenham, Cheshire, England. It was built for Thomas Ravenscroft to replace a timber-framed house called Davenham Lodge.^[1] It dates from the middle or the later part of the 18th century,^[2] possibly from shortly before 1795, when Ravenscroft died.^[1] Substantial additions were made in the early 19th century. It is constructed in stuccoed brick, and has a slate roof. The house is in two storeys with a symmetrical entrance front of six bays. Occupying the middle two bays is a porch with four Tuscan columns and an entablature containing a triglyph. Above this, the central bays protrude slightly forwards and contain two windows, with a pediment above them and a parapet on each side.^[2] Figueirdo and Treuherz describe the interior as being "especially fine". The entrance hall contains Grecian plasterwork and a black marble chimneypiece. The drawing room has more delicate plasterwork, and a marble chimneypiece decorated with dancing figures. The central staircase hall is lit by a central dome, and has fan-shaped plasterwork. The staircase has a wrought iron baluster, and the first floor landing has a screen of four Doric columns. The house was converted into a nursing home in 1980.^[1] It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.^[2]