Courteenhall House

The original estate at Courteenhall was a possession of St James's Abbey at Northampton.[1] At the Dissolution of the monasteries it was bought by the Ouseleys. The estate came into the possession of the Wake baronets in the 18th century.[lower-alpha 1] The Wakes had farmed in Northamptonshire since the mid-13th century.[2] On the advice of Humphry Repton, Sir William Wake (1768–1846) built a new house, on higher ground to the north west of the Ouseley's house. His architect, also a recommendation of Repton, was Samuel Saxon, who had trained in the office of Sir William Chambers.[lower-alpha 2][1] The house was built between 1791 and 1793.[5] Courteenhall remains the private home of the Wake family but is occasionally open for events, or for private hire.[6]

The house is of three storeys and seven bays, with a hipped roof. It is built of local limestone ashlar.[5] The architectural style is neoclassical and Pevsner repeatedly references the sophisticated and refined style of the design.[1] The interior follows a typical 18th century pattern, with entrance hall, drawing room, dining room and library.[1]

The house is a Grade I listed building.[5] The stable block, with attached coach houses, stables and a barn, is also listed Grade II*.[7] The stables have been attributed to John Carr.[1] The surrounding garden and parkland, notable for its trees, is designated Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.[8] The park was laid out by Repton.[1]

• Bailey, Bruce; Pevsner, Nikolaus; Cherry, Bridget (2013). Northamptonshire. The Buildings Of England. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-18507-2. OCLC 964790363.
• Talbott, Lorna (2020). Northampton in 50 Buildings. Stroud, UK: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-445-69514-3.

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