Exterior
Enlargement in various phases has resulted in a vast building comprising a tall N/S main block, including an octagonal tower, with lower L-plan wing to W and corridor link with square tower to E, attached to which is both a canted wing and a N/S wing with clocktower. The E (early C19) parts are in a simple Picturesque style while the mid C19 work is more Tudor Gothic. Castellated, 2- or 3-storey. White limestone rubble to earlier work and coursed red sandstone with mullioned and transomed windows to the later work. Original building consisted of 2 seperate blocks bridged by a narrow link, with Picturesque 'gateway' beneath corridor. The mid C19 work completely remodelled the L-hand block, enlarging and refronting it but retaining some of the 1826 masonry to the E side. The result is an original but austere 3-storey entrance front characterised by blank walling and early C16-style oriel windows to centre and across the canted angles. The lights have chamfered arched heads and sunk spandrels, those to 1st floor transomed. Moulded 4-centred-arched entrance offset to R, with hoodmould with heraldic animals to end stops. R-hand return has single lancets to each storey; this joins limestone walling of early C19 construction, 5-window with red sandstone dressings as mid C19 front, including 2- and 3-light transomed windows with hexagonal leaded glazing to ground floor and R end, and oriel window to centre. W elevation is 4-window, of red sandstone with grouped terracotta chimneys; mullioned and transomed windows under square hoodmoulds, some with carved endstops; 2-storey canted bay 2nd from R and an ogee doorway to L, inserted into a 4-light window. Attached to L, an octagonal 4-storey tower with similar windows and rear vice-turret. Rear elevation is 3-window with canted angles, to L of tower.
Earlier E block has 3-storey square tower at a skewed angle, with red sandstone dressings to 3- and 5-light transomed windows. Stepped down to L is corridor link with main range, with 2 small casement windows. These are over a pointed-arched gateway with flanking pedestrian doorways, the latter blocked with stone, providing access to rear gardens. Its rear has a gothic-glazed window to corridor, and a stair turret in L angle supported on cusped sandstone brackets. To NE the character and plan are Picturesque Gothic, 2-storey range stepping back, with 2-light wooden casements with gothic glazing under high square hoodmoulds. Joining its E side is a long screen wall fronting a walkway with pointed-arched doorways and roundels. This 2-storey range returns to the N and terminates in a broached octagonal tower to which Clutton added a red sandstone clock stage. Continuing to N, irregular 1-storey and attic ranges, with 1825-dated rainwater heads; to L, a block with 3 wide Tudor-arched openings, infilled with a doorway to L and windows to R and centre; low octagonal tower of red sandstone at R end. Rear of 2-storey range has gothic-glazed windows as front, and a canted bay of red sandstone to R end; alterations to rear of 1-storey ranges.
Adjoining the NW angle of the main block, adjacent to the octangonal tower, is a later L-shaped 2-storey range in Tudor Gothic style, of limestone with red sandstone mullioned and transomed windows. The range facing W is 2-window, main range facing S is 6-window with large full-height canted bay of red sandstone 2nd from R. Similar window detail to rear, and tall slender polygonal tower attached to rear wall at R end. Further L-shaped range, probably c1920, set down at right-angles to L, roughcast to E side with gothic-style wooden casement windows; its S end has red sandstone windows as elsewhere.