Details
STANWAY STANWAY VILLAGE
SP 0632-0732
13/122 Stanway House
(formerly listed as part of
4.7.60 Stanway House and Gatehouse)
GV I
Large country house. Late C16, first half Cl7, for Tracy family;
altered early and later C18, 1859 altered and enlarged by W. Burn,
for Earl of Wemyss, altered 1913 by Detmar Blow for later Earl of
Wemyss, further alterations 1949 (datestone). Ashlar or coursed
stone approaching ashlar, stone slate roof. Large, irregular 'U'
plan, 7-window garden front, 2 storeys; Great Hall and 2 rooms to
entrance courtyard, 2 1/2 storeys, single-storey 4-window kitchen
range beyond linking with archway to 2 1/2-storey return range at end.
Entrance front, to courtyard: wall about 2m high with boarded door
on right links to gatehouse (q.v.). Plinth, moulded top. On
right, large canted bay to Great Hall, 4-light mullion and transom,
2 king mullions, 4 transoms, tinted leaded lights, plain parapet
with small pinnacles. To left, 8-panel door, 'L' hinges, up 5
stone steps, flanked fluted Doric pilasters, frieze and pediment
over. To left, 3 small openings in plinth: two 3-light C19
mullion and transom windows, buttress with canted coursing, single-
light in part of blocked 3-light window; evidence of possible
later blocked doorway in part of blocked window. Two 3-light
mullion windows with similar buttress between: courtyard wall
projects on left (q.v.). Moulded string from doorway acts as
hoodmould. Above, to left of bay, three 3-light mullion and
transom windows to Great Hall, each with 2 transoms: six 3-light
mullion and transom, at least 3 have had sill lowered. Moulded
string course from bay acts as hoodmould. Above 4 gables, each
with 3-light mullion window, hoodmould, parapet gable and floral
finial; plain parapets between, hipped dormers behind with 2-light
casements and moulded eaves. Gable chimneys with diamond-set
flues and moulded caps to left. To left, lower kitchen range:
slightly-projecting gable, plinth, 6-light mullion and transom
window, 2 king mullions, centre lights carried up a further stage:
hoodmould steps up over window, extends each side as string.
Slit in gable over, parapet gable, cross gablet apex. To left
plinth, 3-light mullion and transom window rising into parapet
gable: two 3-light mullioned windows, louvred dormers over. To
left, carriage archway rising into gable, 4-centred arch, moulded
arris, buttresses each side. Gable of brewhouse wing, plinth,
three 2-light mullion windows above one another, string course at
first floor level: parapet gable. Right return garden front:
plinth, all windows ovolo-moulded mullion and transom.
Rectangular bay each end, 6-light window, 2 king mullions and 2
transoms; two 4-light similar windows, but with one king mullion,
either side of slightly projecting centre. Largely-glazed double
doors, glazed light over, up one stone step from half landing, 5
stone steps up each side; moulded door surround, framed attached
Corinthian columns, segmental pediment with swags and coat of arms.
Continuous string course as hoodmould. First floor 6-light window
with 2 king mullions to bays, two 4-light windows with king mullion
either side of projecting centre; 2-light window in centre,
moulded surround for earlier, wider window, framed ornate scroll
consoles: large keystone. Continuous string course acts as
hoodmould: openwork strapwork pediments to bays and centre,
openwork cresting to parapet between. Five ashlar chimneys
behind, moulded caps; wide lead flat in front of pitched roof.
Interior: cross passage to Hall, 6-panel door on left, panels in 2
rows, double ovolo door surround, 4-centred arch, strapwork
spandrels. Great Hall: fluted Roman Doric screen to cross
passage, frieze over, and plain wall cutting off gallery: 7
hatchments. Ceiling divided into 10 by moulded beams,
counterchanged moulded joists between; joists not counterchanged
over gallery. Ground floor levels in wing fronting garden step up
twice, following lie of land: end windows originally with blind
bottom lights, now opened. All stairs with solid oak treads, main
stair later given separate treads: dado panelling. Drawing room,
fielded panelling, dado rail, Corinthian pilasters to ceilings,
moulded cornice: marble fireplace surround with acanthus dentils;
panelled shutters; mid C19 moulded plaster ceiling with pendants.
Secondary stairs beyond: Tudor arch to doorway to end section of
wing, sunk spandrels, double ovolo moulding. Library shelving
c1770, broken pediment, dado rail, moulded Gothick surround to
fireplace, moulded plaster cornice. End room panelled shutters,
6-panel door, dado rail, moulded plaster cornice. Above is garden
wing, 6-panel doors, centre panels small; dado rails, plain stone
fireplace surround in end room on right; adjoining room said to
have been papered by William Morris in person. Stairs up to leads
on roof: tie beam trusses to wing fronting garden, with angle
struts to collar, one pair trapped purlins, no ridge member:
rafters tenoned to further purlin just above wallplate level. One
tie beam reused moulded timber. Property of Tewkesbury Abbey
until Reformation. Front to courtyard oldest part of house:
garden wing first part C17. Cross passage screen probably early
C18; centre doorway garden front, window to left and above altered
to sashes, reconverted by mid C19: final conversion of window over
door mid C20. Dating of parts of house in V.C.H. seems doubtful.
(C. Hussey in Country Life, 1964; D. Verey, Gloucestershire, the
Cotswolds, 1970; H. Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British
Architects, 1978; Lord Neidpath, Stanway House, 1984)
Listing NGR: SP0611732409
