Walton House

Details

TEWKESBURY

SO93SW CHURCHILL DRIVE 859-1/3/156 (West side) 04/08/93 Walton House

II

Country house in own grounds, now (Jan 1992) partly surrounded by later buildings. Late C18 and late C19, the architect for the original building possibly George Byfield, designer of Webber House (qv) with which the detailing compares. Flemish bond brickwork, some ashlar dressings, slate roofs, brick stacks. PLAN: a compact symmetrical double-depth block with central staircase hall to the rear, 2 chimney breasts to each gable wall, and a lower range added to the S side in late C19, together with conservatory. The entrance was originally on the E side, but is now on the W, through the added range. EXTERIORS: 3 storeys and basement, E front is 1:3:1-windowed, the middle 3 bays brought forward slightly,and with a one-bay extension to the left. The principal building has 6-pane sashes at second floor, with 12-pane at first and ground floors, but the first bay has doors to a steel escape stair at first and second floors, and there is one replacement sash at each of the first and ground floors. All have a central keystone, and stone cills. The central bay has a sunk panel to an arched top, at the ground floor containing a pair of part-glazed French doors under a 6-pane transom-light in a stone moulded pediment and eared architrave. A stone modillion cornice returns the full width of both gable walls, and to the central pediment over the middle bays. The later wing to the left has a 2-storey canted bay with plain sashes, under a moulded stone pediment; the return to the left is plain, with 5 sashes at first floor. The conservatory, with an asbestos-cement roof, has a 5-light round bay with conical roof against a coped gable to the south, and to the E is in 3 bays with paired lights, the central one with doors. All the casements have a transom, with paired small lights above. The brick piers at E and S sides have modelled capitals with terracotta rosettes. In the main block the N gable wall is plain, with some blocked windows, and the S has 4 plain sashes at second floor. The large stacks have stone modelled cappings, and the curved gable ends continue between the stacks as a straight parapet, concealing the central valley roof. The W front is in 3 storeys with basement, 3-windowed, all to segmental brick heads and stone cills. Second floor has 9-pane sashes, and there are large tripartite sashes at first and second floors; those to the right have a central arched sash with margin-panes. A tall arched window with geometrical bar infill lights the central stair, above a small 6-pane light. A stair descends to the basement, left. The added bay, right, has a raised parapet with central sunk stone panel with a shield, above a 12-pane sash in a raised brick surround with stone cornice-mould and pediment. A panelled door with radial fanlight has a stone entablature, and is flanked by small single lights. Behind the parapet the roof returns with a hipped end. INTERIOR: mainly of the late C19, with fine contemporary joinery detailing, including the grand staircase, with square newels with finials, a moulded and wreathed handrail, open string, and panelled soffits. The window contains coloured glass, including a coat of arms with the motto 'Vouloir c'est pouvoir'. A secondary stair, at the upper level only, has splat balusters. Many 6-panel doors, some with moulded surrounds, decorative plastered ceilings, and a full-width set of sliding panelled doors in the front suite. A front room has a white marble fire surround. The conservatory, approached through a pair of doors under a transom-light, is in 3 bays, and has decorative king-post trusses and ceramic tile floor. HISTORICAL NOTE: although adapted in recent years to institutional use, much of the original domestic fabric and decoration remains in the house, which was once the home of the Cartland family (see also Cartland Memorial in the Abbey Churchyard). There was a Walton Spa Pumproom, built in 1835 and demolished 1961, which may account for the large house on this site. A Nicholas Smithsend lived in Walton House in 1820 (Ross). (Ross K: The Book of Tewkesbury: London: 1986-: 74/75).

Listing NGR: SO9089432908

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

376738

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Ross, K, The Book of Tewkesbury, (1986), 74/75

End of official list entry

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