Details
WEYMOUTH
SY6778SW WYKE ROAD
873-1/26/413 (North side)
18/06/70 No.4
Ashton House
(Formerly Listed as:
WYKE ROAD
Nos.4 AND 6)
GV II
House in short row, formerly 2 dwellings. 1820-1840. Smooth
rendered, slate roof. A villa in Greek Revival style, with
4-bay central block, stepped-back bay at each end, and lower
range to the right; the entrance and staircase are to the
right, at the junction between the two main ranges.
EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and basement, but developing full 4
storeys at the rear, as the site slopes steeply away from the
road.
Windows mainly sashes, the central block has two 12-pane and
two 4-pane to the eaves, above deep 15-pane taken to floor at
first floor, and with a full-width balcony, the wrought-iron
railing returned at the ends. At ground floor is one 16-pane
and one plain sash, with 3-light casements to the basement,
one of these enclosed in a contemporary cast-iron railing.
The set-back bay to the left has plain sashes and a door. The
lower range has a blind window.
The bold portico, on 5 Portland stone steps with nosings, has
paired fluted Doric columns in antis, and full column responds
to the pair of 4-panel doors, and a full entablature, to a
flat roof. The main hipped roof to deep plain eaves has a
central ridge stack, and there are further stacks to the left
gable end, and to the rear eaves of the low range, which has a
form of parapet to the front. A high plinth, to the level of
the portico steps, a first floor moulded band, plain second
floor band, and moulded band to the set-backs The right gable
has a low-pitched closed pediment, above two 12-pane sashes at
each level, and a basement entry hatch in the deep plinth, to
the right.
The back includes 4 wide-spaced sashes at eaves level above
two 2-storey oriels, flanked by long 24-pane staircase
windows, and the lower range has a 15-pane above a blind light
and a 16-pane sash.
INTERIOR: partly inspected. Original 6-panel doors in moulded
architraves generally remain, but fireplaces have been removed
from the principal rooms. Opposite the portico is a fine
full-height geometrical staircase, rising in a semicircular
well with deep niches; the open strings have scrolled
tread-ends, and the stick balustrade has a wreathed mahogany
handrail; the second staircase was not seen.
The basement has 3 wide brick-vaulted compartments on cobble
floors to the front, with a transverse passage at the rear
ceiled with stone carried on a series of close-set (0.15m)
iron camber bars, and incorporating small set-in solid glass
bullseye pavement lights, usually in groups of 3 to each 1m
along the passage.
The house, now in institutional use, is the most impressive of
a group, comprising Nos 4 and 8-14 (qqv), built as Belfield
Terrace, on the principal road from Melcombe Regis to Wyke
Regis. The unusual treatment of the cellar ceiling is not
explained.
(RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 346).
Listing NGR: SY6732778421