Corsham Court
CORSHAM COURT
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1022004
- Date first listed:
- 20-Dec-1960
- List Entry Name:
- Corsham Court
- Statutory Address:
- CORSHAM COURT
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-06-23
- Reference:
- IOE01/14443/37
- Rights:
- © Mr Adrian Exton. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1022004
- Date first listed:
- 20-Dec-1960
- List Entry Name:
- Corsham Court
- Statutory Address 1:
- CORSHAM COURT
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- CORSHAM COURT
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Wiltshire (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Corsham
- National Grid Reference:
- ST 87415 70684
Details
CORSHAM CORSHAM COURT ST 8770 5/99 Corsham Court 20.12.60 GV I
Country house, 1582, for T. Smythe, enlarged 1760-6 by L. Brown for P. Methuen, altered 1795-1803 by J. Nash for P.C. Methuen and 1846- 9 by T. Methuen for 1st Lord Methuen. Ashlar with stone tiled roofs, basement and two-and-a-half storeys. Main south front has recessed 3-bay centre, dated 1582, with wings projecting by 2 bays and 2-bay ends, the outerbay of each wing a matching addition of c1760 by Brown. Coped gables with heraldic finials to each bay and 3-light attic mullion windows with hoodmoulds. Main floors have moulded courses carried around projecting 2-storey bay-windows, 3 to south front, 2 to south end of each wing, all bays pedimented with heraldic finials except for centre porch-bay which has semi- circular carved head with finials. Mullion-and-transom windows. Centre bay has Doric porch with clustered piers, entablature, broken forward over piers, carved panel over with flanking panels and first floor mullion-and-transom window as elsewhere but with sill course. Windows each side of centre bay and side lights to bays are apparently later additions, though all the bays may have been reconstructed by Brown. Hexagonal leaded panes throughout. East front added by Brown in Palladian style was remodelled by Nash in Tudor-style, 2-storeys with low basement, 2-5-2 windows, the outer bays flanked by octagonal turrets. Dripcourses to each floor, crenellated parapet. Nine-pane upper windows, 12-pane below, all with hoodmoulds, outer windows closely paired. Central first floor canted oriel of 1-3-1 Tudor-arched lights. North end turret was replaced in 1846-7, the east front being intended for remodelling to match north. North front added by Bellamy, replacing a Gothic north front by Nash, itself replacing a Palladian front of 1747 by N. Ireson. Bellamy's front has massive projecting central 4-storey stair tower, 2-window, 2-storey sections each side and projecting 3-storey, 3-window wings flanked on inner returns by 2-storey one-window sections with curved heads based on 1582 south front. Detail is generally based on Elizabethan with motifs from south front but with heavy balustraded parapets and pinnacles. At north-west end a low Gothic octagonal dairy survives from Nash's work. West front is service end with, to right, return of Brown's addition with gable, as on south front, first floor Venetian window and 2 small quatrefoils below. To left, in angle to adjoining range, 2-storey square-plan block with cornice and stone-tiled square dome, 9-pane upper window and elliptical arches with keystone and impost blocks to south and west side, south side with door and west blank. Built by Brown as a muniment room and incorporating a reused medieval vault in the ground floor. Beyond, 'L'-plan 2-storey range by Brown with crenellations added by Nash, sashes, paired to ground floors and arched doors in angle set within enclosed porch. Interior: outstanding surviving interiors of 1760-6 with highly ornate plasterwork by T. Stocking and fireplaces by Scheemakers, notably the 72' picture gallery on east side, Cabinet Room to south and State Bedroom to west. In west wing former Library also of 1760-6 and present Library by Nash. Central part of the house remodelled by Bellamy including Italianate imperial staircase. Nash's hall fireplace survives in former servants hall on north side. Upper floor has fine early to mid C18 south-west room with panelling and Chinese wallpaper. Several c1800-30 fireplaces survive. Attic south-west room has C16 fireplace and cupboard doors. (F.J. Ladd, Architects at Corsham Court, 1979; C.L. 20 and 27.11.1937; N. Pevsner, Wiltshire, 1975 192-4.)
Listing NGR: ST8735570584
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 315124
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Ladd, F J, Architects at Corsham Court, (1978)
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Wiltshire, (1975), 192-4
Country Life in 20 November, (1937)
Country Life in 27 November, (1937)
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 46 Wiltshire,
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 13:59:54.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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