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
