KIRKBY HALL

       The estate covered an area of approximately 160 acres and was described in 1921 as having "thriving areas of Oak woodland, first class hunting and good partridge ground."

The Mansion.
Front Layout.        Here the  building  consisted of an Inner hall with an internal telephone line to the stables. A ballroom ( 34 x 14ft.), plus library ( 34 x 14ft.) the latter having a secret doorway leading to a lobby and private staircase. Also located thereabouts was a Billiard and Smoking room. Moving up to the 1st floor, there were 9 principal bed and dressing rooms av.(20 x 20ft), 6 secondary bed and dressing rooms av.(17 x 9ft). The 2nd floor accommodated the servants quarters being  5 Maid servants bedrooms, 5 men servants bedrooms and 5 spacious attic and box rooms.

At the rear of the building  the ground floor also contained the domestic offices, Servants Hall and Kitchen (21ft x 18 ft.), Servants Sitting Room, a Scullery, Butlers pantry, Plate room, Still Room, 2 Larders, a China Cupboard, 2 Housemaids Cupboards and a Boot Hole. Underground, were wine, beer, mineral water and storage cellars also an Outside Game Larder and Ice House.

The Utilities.                 The water supply - Drinking water was supplied by pump from a Well in the grounds. The Domestic water supply was obtained from a water course at the far end of lakes and forced by hydraulic ram up into tanks at the top of the house. A high level water tank, also supplied by the Ram and situated near the Gardeners Cottage (North Lodge) was used to supply water to the outbuildings and stables etc. The Hall was equipped with electric lighting  supplied from a 110 volt battery bank, kept charged by a 16 HP. Horsby Oil Engine driving a D.C. generator set.

The Grounds. see village map
   As already stated the grounds covered some 160 acres, the perimeter being almost completely made up of woodland. Church Spinney formed the boundary to the East and South. Traversing clockwise we would have come upon Kirkby Wood, a mixed 30acres woodland. Further round to the West , the landscape became open marshland with natural lakes feeding into a brook that once provided water for the Water Mill. To the North were further plantations bordering onto Stapleton Lane. Set back from the Hall to the North West, the ground dropped away sharply, here woodland walks were set out around 3 large rectangular fishing lakes, each approximately 90 x 60yds. On the East side of the Hall a central ornamental fountain was surrounded by lawns which in turn were bordered on 2 sides by rhododendrons and a beech grove, an avenue of Lime trees led off to the North stretching some 120 yds to a summer house. The immediate front of the hall overlooked an approaching driveway flanked by spacious lawns and flower borders, with an overall view of open parkland interspersed with coppice of Oak.

Round the pack at Kirkby Hall November 1904

Many thanks to Mr Tim Parry for sending in this photograph of the Atherstone Hunt Meet at Kirkby Hall. The enthusiastic group of onlookers would have been mainly estate workers and farmworkers from the local farms all of which were owned or rented out by the Manor estate as was all of the property in the village of course.

 When attending the village church, the occupants of the Hall did so by means of a private driveway lined with Elm trees, as shown opposite. The drive ran parallel to a pathway used by the villagers, this pathway was part of the 4 mile footpath that ran between the villages of Earl Shilton and Newbold Verdon via. Kirkby Mallory . This short section leading to the church was later widened, and a circular wrought iron seat installed, courtesy of Lady Byron. This pathway then became known in the village as the "Church Walk". The private driveway was know doubt constructed due to the fact that any vehicle ie. coach and horses, using the Church Walk would have been unable to turn around having once entered the Church Yard. This private drive would have facilitated this. The gate hinges for this entrance to the Church yard can still be seen overgrown in the hedge close to the church.
        

The Garden and Outbuildings.      The large culinary garden was walled on 2 sides and contained Potting and Tool Sheds plus a small orchard. A small inner garden, walled on all sides, contained 2 glass houses, and a 3/4 span greenhouse and vinary, both heated by a stoke- hole boiler. Water was obtained by means of a "Well" fed hand pump , with a secondary supply obtained from the Ram water tower.    The Outbuildings consisted of  Stables for 16 horses. Above the stables, 2 rooms with fireplaces were provided  for the grooms plus bedroom accommodation. A laundry was available with washing and drying facilities. The complex also contained a Brew and Bake house, various store rooms, a Slaughter House and a Blacksmiths Shop. The Northerly quadrangle contained 4 cow houses, 6 bull houses, 2 loose boxes, piggeries together with a 2 bay barn and Granary. Other outbuildings consisted of a 2 and 3 bay open shed and cart shed respectively. Dog kennels were also provided ,these consisted of 4 brick and tiled kennels with integral iron railed runs with an adjoining boiler house.

The above plan shows the relationship of the various outbuildings and the location of the Hall

Present day view of part of the remaining outbuildings	Indicates angle of view

The above photograph together with the outline drawing, give an indication of the relative position of the buildings .The small white building (right) in the photograph was originally the engine room for the electrical generator.

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For more local history try www.hinckley-times.co.uk/history