In his vision for the North Front Ralph Montagu must have hoped the central doors of the Colonnade would have worked as a grand entrance into the Great Hall. However, the misalignment of the old and new buildings and the pinched passage space between them must immediately have proved unsatisfactory. The present, apparently side, entrance was therefore adopted as the primary entrance, although this brought its own problems with the difference in levels between the North and West fronts.

Ralph, like many of his contemporaries, was extremely well educated. He would have been familiar with all the classical allegories illustrated, well versed in the grammar of classical architecture and a cultivated individual, receptive, as a Francophile, to the new and developing fashions he witnessed on the continent. Thus, at first floor level the victorious Roman soldiers with their Dacian captives were taken from reliefs on the Arch of Constantine in Rome.

The trompe l'oeil walls,
Trompe-l'oeil statue of Plenty and classical busts.

On the ceiling, Mercury is seen holding the Golden Apple thrown by Discord for presentation to ‘the fairest Goddess’, as he is being despatched by the Gods to find the hapless mortal to undertake the task. His selection of Paris, as judge, triggered the events leading to the legendary Trojan War.

"Discord throwing the apple amongst the Gods,"
 

Between the windows the pair of English gilt gesso pier glasses and walnut tables below are about 1700.

The mahogany hall chairs with the Scott coat of arms, more of which can be seen in the Little Hall, are George III period. The long-case clock is signed by William Lockin of Rugby, c.1710.
The ormolu bracket clock (see right) dating from c.1740 on the landing of the staircase is by Balthazar Martinot of Paris with a case by Jacques Caffieri (1678-1755).

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