Hilles House and Terraced Gardens

Details

SO 81 SE HARESCOMBE -

6/92 Hilles House and terraced gardens

10.1.55

II*

Large country house. Built from 1914 to 1939; by Detmar Blow for himself. Coursed and squared rubble limestone; ashlar dressings; ashlar chimneys with moulded caps; stone slate roof (formerly thatched). Single long range projecting from hill side; 2-storey with attic; attached outbuildings at east end. South front: almost symmetrical but incomplete at east end; 3 parapet gables, those to centre and left with gable chimney, to right with stone cross; between gables boldly projecting octagonal 2-storey bay windows with parapet roofs; at centre projecting single-storey porch with curved pediment; round-arched doorway with imposts and keystone within panelled and moulded front; pair of small-paned glazed round arched porch doors. Fenestration consists entirely of mullioned small-paned metal casements with 4-centred arched heads; pair of 2- light casements under separate flat hoodmould to upper floor of gables, 2 gables having oval attic window, third with single arched casement; two 3-light windows under continuous hood moulding to ground floor at each end of elevation; 4 gabled roof dormers; large circular arched carriage doorway with imposts and keystone in single-storey continuation of south front to east; pair of niches with shell hoods form end of high level terrace. West end: parapet-gabled with ridge chimney; large central octagonal bay windows to ground floor, standing on tall base resulting from falling slope; three 2-light casements above with separate moulded hoods; 2 attic ovals. Very high buttressed terrace retaining wall projects at angle from south west corner; 2 buttresses hollowed out to form look-outs; drainage openings in face of retaining wall have appearance of cannon-ports. North side: asymmetrical with large central projecting gabled staircase wing; to left in angle rectangular bay window with angled corners building up to form low 3-storey tower; continuous mullioned windows to lower storeys; 5- light mullioned window to tower room; full gable to right of staircase wing; all fenestration 4-centred arched except in tower. Terrace in west angle of wing, with retaining wall extended to north to large terraced lawn; gateway breaks wall adjacent to house. Interior restored after fire destroyed original thatched roof in 1940. Classically inspired stone fireplaces; panelled timber screen with detached Doric columns; plain board and flagstone floors; and plain boarded ceilings all illustrate Blow's curious stylistic combination of Jacobean classical and traditional vernacular sources (see Country life). Orientation of house is to achieve maximum dramatic effect, reinforced by restless composition of C16 motifs. Siting results in distant views across Vale of Gloucester; house has considerable landscape impact when viewed from the vale. (C. Aslet, The Last Country Houses, 1982; articles in Country Life, 7th and 14th September 1940; and D.Verey, Gloucestershire: The Cotswolds, 1979.)

Listing NGR: SO8513012105

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

131747

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Verey, D, The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 1 The Cotswolds, (1970)
Aslet, C, The Last Country House, (1982)
Country Life in 14 September, (1940)
Country Life in 7 September, (1940)

End of official list entry

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