Elmore Court

Details

SO 71 NE ELMORE ELMORE VILLAGE

1/53 Elmore Court 10.1.55 II*

Large country house. Between 1564 and 1588; additions and alterations: C18, early C19, and c1869. Limestone ashlar; ashlar chimneys with moulded caps; plain tile roof. Central hall with cross-wings; 2- and 3-storey; large single-storey service wing to rear. South front: accumulation of features of various dates in asymmetrical facade. At centre 2 early C18 segmental headed mullioned and transomed casements, that on left largely replaced by C18 porch in Doric order with 3 columns in row to each side and with balustraded parapet bearing Guise arms; 3 narrow sashes above; large C16 mullioned and transomed octagonal bay window to right with 2 sashes above bay parapet; further right facade is 3-storey with continuous drip moulds and has large projecting octagonal-ended single-storey C18 bay window with 3 sashes in segmental headed openings and moulded architraves, surmounted by parapet with urns; 2 ovolo-moulded cross windows above to second floor; the height of this part of facade regularized by continuous moulded parapet. Left part of south front is 3-storey 5-window early C19 rebuilding with sashes and plain banding between floors; parapet to match remainder of facade. Hipped roofs; C19 ashlar chimney stacks with moulded caps. East facade: also an accumulation. Earliest features are two 3-light recessed chamfered mullioned cellar windows, now blocked, and round arched C16 blocked doorway with imposts and keyed architrave with cornice over on small brackets and rusticated panel above; otherwise facade is C18 five-window with sashes in moulded openings to lower 2 storeys and six C19 round arched openings to top storey with rusticated architraves and small-paned casements with fanlights; very large blocked round arched opening with moulded architrave to east side of bay projecting to left in south facade, probably garden doorway; moulded parapet continues from south front. North elevation: left half continues facade with moulded parapet from east, having 2-window fenestration in 3 storeys, all 9-light ovolo-moulded mullioned and transomed casements except small-paned sash to left in ground floor. Right half is C19, part gabled, windows being mullioned and transomed with relieving arches. West facade: to right early C19, otherwise c1869 (date on doorway with bracketed porch hood); 3- storey 5-window with sashes in beaded openings. Interior has many features dating from C16 house. Great Hall largely remodelled but has stone C16 fireplace with painted strapwork. C16 bay window re-glazed in 1853 with heraldic stained glass. Drawing room with Jacobean panelling having continuous frieze with dragon carving; fireplace with strapwork decoration and 2 shields in heraldic chimneypiece above. Oak staircase in small hall on north side is late C16, and serves 3 storeys; large square newel posts with moulded finials and slanted balusters; brattishing to hand rail. Over Great Hall the Oak Room contains elaborately carved oak C16 chimneypiece, embellished with caryatids and 3 round arched panels with the arms of the Guise and Pauncefoote families, with the Guise impaling Pauncefoote in central panel. Another upper floor room contains cruder C16 chimneypiece carved with figure of Father Time in circular recess. The C16 house was built on site of medieval house whose remains are said to be visible in the cellars. Stands on land in ownership of Guise family since C13. Site is on slight hill and is therefore dominant in the otherwise flat landscape. (Anon., Elmore Court, (guidebook), n.d.; article in Country Life, 26th December, 1914; and D. Verey, Gloucestershire: The Vale and the Forest of Dean, 1976.)

Listing NGR: SO7828515333

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

131709

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Elmore Court Guidebook, ()
Verey, D, The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 2 The Vale and The Forest of Dean, (1970)
Country Life in 26 December, (1914)

End of official list entry

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