Description
Circa 1800, classical mansion with considerable additions and alterations, mainly in Arts and Crafts manner, of circa 1900.
Circa 1800 house; 2-storey, 5-bay symmetrical house with
slightly lower, rectangular blocks set back as wings, at NE
and NW corners, with 2-bay elevations to south and 3-bay rear
elevation (to north) with centre doors (with considerable
later alterations). All squared grey granite, contrasting
pinnings and with contrasting polished ashlar dressings,
harl pointed rubble to rear.
Centre door with Roman Doric portico approached by 3 shallow
steps; double leaf panelled door (c.1900). All front windows hoodmoulded; 1 pair ground and 1st floor windows doubled in
NW wing; 1 ground and 1 1st floor blind window in east gable.
Moulded architraves; 12-pane glazing.
Base course; polished ashlar long-short quoins; eaves
cornice and blocking course; coped panelled end stacks;
piended platform slate roof. Circa 1900 additions. Extensive
additions and alterations, mainly in Arts and Crafts style
to outer wings and to rear of house. At SE a large 2-storey
harled wing with octagonal angle tower and with tall
bipartite in centre of front elevation; series of small
windows below eaves, south and west. Single octagonal tower
at corner of SW wing of mansion.
Extensive additions to rear; long 2-storey wing projects
at NW; further extensions block former centre doors of early
rear wings and link the latter to enclose small rear court.
2 canted bay windows rise full height at NW. Various
glazing, in south multi-pane upper sashes; to rear mainly
2-pane. Assorted stacks, including 2 unusual gablet apex
stacks to rear. Slate roofs. Interior; mainhouse ground floor
entrance hall and room to right (east) linked to form single
hall (late 19th century) with vestigal screens passage and
"Tudor" panelling and richly decorated plaster ceiling.
Some genuine 16th-17th century (re-set) panelling flanks
chimney piece which has Elizabethan (copy) family portrait
framed above depicting Fairfax-Lucy family of Charlcote.
Ashlar chimney piece with carved spandrels. Dining room (SW)
has c. 1900 chimney piece incorporating halved sedan chair.
Centre stair "Tudor" balusters and newels, panelled stairwell
and leaded and stained glazed stair window. Stair continues
to attic floor with original cast-iron balusters with
intertwined detailing.
1st floor rooms with heavy plaster ceilings with classical
egg and dart, anthemion and palmette motifs. Heavy grained
panelled doors with moulded and corniced door cases.
Circa 1900 additions have Arts and Crafts decoration.
Principal room in SE wing of 2-storey height, half panelled
and with massive white ashlar "inglenook" chimney piece
flanked by engaged columns with plaited design and capitals
(as lamp stands) decorated with weaving motif, heraldic
beasts in spandrels, all masking inner granite chimney piece.
Principal 1st floor bedroom with chimney piece with Dutch
tiled surround flanked by carved wooden panels, small box
seats and further carved heraldic insignia.