Whiteway House

Details

CHUDLEIGH SX 88 SE 1/31 Whiteway House 23.8.55 II* Large House. Largely 1770s built for the first Lord Borrington with early C19 alterations. There is some uncertainty about the dating : Pevsner describes it as "Queen Anne with additions of 1812 and 1815" but the 1973 sale particulars state that in 1765 "there existed little more than a farmhouse on the site". Flemish bond brick ; slate roof concealed behind a parapet with corner urns ; brick stacks with moulded cornices, some stone dressings, rear elevation rendered. Rectangular plan, the south-facing garden elevation with a central canted bay and the 5 principal rooms facing south. Entrance on the east end with an entrance hall leading into an axial corridor. Open well stair on the north side of the corridor in the centre is domed and top-lit. A probably early C19 wing at right angles to the main range and facing east was demolished between 1967 and 1973. A separately-roofed service block, parallel to the main range at the rear has also been demolished. It is difficult to disentangle the phases of building : the exterior appears to be consistent with a date of 1774 (dated rainwater head) although a medallion in the pediment on the east front is probably early C18. The internal detail of the 3 principal central rooms and the entrance hall looks surprisingly early for the 1770s but the stair hall, west end room and some of the moulded cornices may well be early C19. 3 storeys. Symmetrical 7 window east elevation the central 3 bays pedimented with pilasters above a 3-bay Tuscan portico with a panelled soffit. Moulded cornice below parapet; platbands at first and second floor levels. A medallion in the pediment has a bust in relief: it has been suggested that this depicts Queen Anne. The old list description refers to ground to eaves pilasters at the left and right, these no longer exist. Central 2-leaf front door with fielded panels and a doorcase with panelled soffit and reveals ; semi-circular fanlight with spoke glazing bars. The door is flanked by 12-pane sashes under the portico, 2 similar windows to left and right with flat ribbed brick arches, similar first floor windows. The second floor windows are 3 over 6 pane sashes with flat ribbed brick arches. A 1 window extension on the ground floor at the right end is all that remains of the former linking block between the main range and stables. Symmetrical 5 bay south elevation, the central bay 5-sided and crowned with a vase, the flanking bays slightly set back ; the outer bays slightly broken forward. Moulded cornice below parapet ; platbands and sill bands. The central ground floor window in the bay is round-headed with a stone architrave, open pediment with enriched consoles, a keyblock and a round-headed sash with margin glazing. Similar first floor sash with a round-headed architrave and keyblock. The second floor sash has a stone architrave and cornice and 3 over 6 panes. The flanking facets of the bay are glazed with similar sashes to those on the east front. The bays to left and right of the centre have ground and first floor Venetian windows keyblocks. The second floor windows are tripartite sashes with moulded cornices and stone architrave hand in some of the late C18 details. Photographs in the NMR taken in 1962 show the now demolished 5-bay north-east wing ; the demolished service range and a separate C19 service block to the rear. A fine house with a notable interior.

Listing NGR: SX8767682951

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

85287

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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