Cockshoots Hall

The current incarnation of Cocksworth Hall was erected in the mid 19th century, after the previous building was largely destroyed by fire, which makes it more modern than most of the Great Houses of England. It was designed in the neoclassical style of Buckingham Palace. The standout feature is a glass dome built by the current Earl on his accession to the title.

The central section is 300 feet wide and, a relatively narrow, 50 feet deep with 2 wings extending 100 feet forwards at the same depth. There are only two floors in the house, although the lower is so great in height, another floor could easily accommodated in between.

In front of each wing is a similarly sized annex, although the floors are about half the height of their counterparts in the main part of the Hall. As there is a slight incline downwards toward the main building, the annexes are slightly elevated.

Looking at the front of the house from the gates, the North Wing is on the left and the South Wing is on the right. Cockshoots Hall consists of 5 sections: North Wing, North, Central, South and South Wing.

Basement

Wings/North/South: Several utility rooms accessed through hatches in discrete places.

Central: A hidden originally Catholic chapel, which is now used for multi-denominational worship on Sunday mornings for the servants and accessed through a door next to the ballroom. It has a confessional which tends to have a queue.

Lower floor

North Wing: Family rooms, studies, a medical area, a music room and a newly installed swimming pool.

North: Family and reception rooms and a theatre.

Central: Ballroom and servant’s stations.

South: Great Hall, art studios, the Earl's study and a bathroom.

South Wing: Library, offices, a billiards room and a brand new squash court.

Upper floor

Wings: Grand Staircases, guest bedrooms and accommodation for their servants.

North/South: Family bedrooms, a linen cupboard and roof access on each side. In the north east corner is the Royal Suite, reserved exclusively for any royal visitors, and in the opposite corner is the Ducal Suite, reserved for a visitor ranked above a Viscount. There are also rooms for their servants.

Central: The Earl and Countess's adjoined suites underneath a glass dome.

Roof

Chimneys and water heaters for the bathrooms. The glass dome rises to about 20 feet above the roof.

Annexes

North: Kitchen, laundry, still room, servants’ dining room, tool room and accommodation for temporary staff are below the servants' bedrooms, bathrooms and, unusually, leisure rooms. The wine cellar is accessed from the still room.

South: Stables and coach bays below haylofts at the east and west ends. Garages, an office, a bathroom for the use of outdoor staff and a dining room with a kitchen are below bedrooms for the chauffeur and stable staff.

Fixtures

Windows: Upstairs and downstairs, the entire main corridor is windowed as is the corridor behind the ballroom, the studios and the dining room. The Earl and Countess’ suites are so peppered with flat skylights that the majority of their ceiling is glass allowing them to see clearly through the 20 feet high dome. The central circle of glass is surrounded with a 360 degree viewing platform accessed by steel ladders which curve up the dome.

Outer doors: The main entrance is just in front of the ballroom, where staff are sometimes presented, and is rarely used. The family generally uses a door in the South , and business people a door in the North. Models generally enter through the glass doors in the studios. Deliveries are usually made to the side door of the kitchen annex.

Staircases: The Grand Staircases are immediately in the front of the large guest suites. There are also servants' staircases at the end of each wing, but anyone can use them.

Passages: The annexes are joined by gently sloping passageways which have doors on either side. The one from the stables to the billiard room rarely has its access doors unlocked, in contrast to those into the kitchen annex, which have been removed.

Pipes and Wires: Generally hidden in the subfloor, the chief benefit of being built in the Victorian age. However there are a lot of access points to ease repair.