Packwood House

Packwood House, located in Lapworth, Solihull, is a stunning example of a Grade I listed building, managed by the National Trust. The house and its outbuildings date back to the late 16th century, with significant mid-17th-century additions and early 20th-century alterations. The early 20th-century renovations, including the addition of the Long Gallery and Great Hall around 1931, were commissioned by Graham Baron Ash. The house’s architecture features a mix of rendered surfaces, likely on brick or timber framing, and an old plain-tile complex cross-gabled roof with various brick stacks, creating a picturesque and historically rich structure.

The entrance to Packwood House is marked by a two-storey porch with a Tudor-arched outer doorway and a plank door, flanked by several large mullion and transom windows that date back to the 20th century. The south front of the house is particularly notable with its symmetrical three-window range and a four-centre arched doorway. The west front similarly features a two-storey, three-window range with a central stone Tudor-arch doorway. The Great Hall wing, constructed of red brick with an old plain-tile roof, adds a grand dimension to the house with its two-storey, five-bay hall range.

The outbuilding range, dating to the mid-17th century, consists of red brick with intricate flared headers in Flemish bond and some decorative diaper work. This range includes a two-storey, three-window section with an arched doorway and various mullion and transom windows. Additionally, the outbuilding’s east front of the cross-wing is characterized by red brick with flared headers, old plain-tile roof, and a ridge stack, featuring a single storey and attic nine-bay range.

Inside Packwood House, much of the interior was reimagined in the early 20th century by Graham Baron Ash. The Great Hall, with its impressive five-bay upper-cruck roof, houses a stone fireplace and plaster overmantel sourced from a wine shop in Stratford-upon-Avon. The house also contains numerous stained glass medallions from the 17th-century Flemish period, originally from Culham House in Oxfordshire. The interior is richly paneled, much of which was added by Ash, and includes a fine collection of period furniture, some pieces of which were acquired from nearby Baddesley Clinton.

Packwood House is not only an architectural gem but also a repository of historical artifacts and art, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the past. The National Trust guide book from 1987 provides an extensive overview of the house’s history and its various elements, making it a significant cultural and historical landmark in Warwickshire.

Created: 6  July  2024  Edited: 17  September  2024