Trafalgar House

Details

DOWNTON STANDLYNCH SU 12 SE (west side) 4/128 Trafalgar House 23/3/60

GV I

Country house. 1733 by John James for Peter Vandeput, wings and pavilions of 1766 by John Wood the Younger for Henry Dawkins, second floor added shortly before portico of 1766 by Nicholas Revett. Flemish bond brick with chamfered limestone quoins, wings are English bond, Welsh slate hipped roofs, brick stacks with stone cappings. Central rectangular block with side wings linking two pavilions. 3-storey, 7-bay symmetrical front. Central Doric portico by Revett has pairs of columns of Order of The Temple of Apollo at Delos, projecting pediment and balustraded parapet, double half-glazed doors in Gibbs surround, three 12-pane sashes either side. First floor has seven sashes; all windows with Gibbs surrounds. Modillioned cornice to second floor; seven 6-pane sashes in moulded architraves. Moulded cornice to blocking course. Returns have rainwater heads with date 1733. 5-bay right return has blind windows to left and right, sashes to centre bays same as front. Left return has 3 bays with Sashes same as front and fine Venetian window lighting stairs to centre bay of first floor. Rear of main block has 3 storeys and basement, 7 windows same as front, centre 3 bays break forward with modillioned pediment and central glazed doors with segmental pediment on Tuscan columns, basement has 2-light casements. Linking wings are single-storey with basement and 5 windows; 12-pane sashes. Pavilions have 2 storeys and basements, 3:3:3 bays to fronts at right angles to main block. Centre bays break forward with hipped roof, 12-pane sashes with flat-arched heads, French windows to 3-bay returns and Venetian windows with grooved surrounds and paterae to centre bays of outward-facing fronts, 2-light leaded casements to basements. Hipped roofs with moulded cornices and blocking courses. Interior: Fittings of main block mostly of 1733; open well stairs on south side with 3 turned balusters to a tread and carved spandrels, very fine entrance hall with coved plaster ceiling with rococo decoration, walls with Corinthian pilasters, floral swags and chinoiserie panels, open pedimented doors and fireplace, modillioned ceiling cornice. Saloon in similar style. Room to left of hall has fine painted decoration of c1766 by J. B. Cipriani, depicting allegorical scenes. Other internal decor by Revett, including fine ceiling, in north pavilion. Rococo and classical fireplaces, double doors and doors with fielded panels and central beading. North pavilion refitted early C19, south pavilion entirely refitted following fire of 1866. Estate bought by Treasury after death of Dawkins in 1814 and given to heirs of Admiral Viscount Nelson, in gratitude for his services. The house was then occupied by his brother, 1st Earl Nelson and the name of the house changed from Standlynch House to Trafalgar House. House of 1733 built to replace an earlier house by the river, demolished by Vandeput. (Unpublished records of RCHM (England), Salisbury. Country Life July 13th and 20th, 1945).

Listing NGR: SU1859123762

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

319687

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Country Life in 13 July, (1945)
Country Life in 20 July, (1945)

End of official list entry

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