Benham Park

Benham Valence House, Benham Valence, Speen, Newbury, RG20 8LU

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1220740
Date first listed:: 06-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:: Benham Park
Statutory Address:: Benham Valence House, Benham Valence, Speen, Newbury, RG20 8LU

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Date:: 2000-07-31
Reference:: IOE01/02738/03
Rights:: © Mr James A Irving. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: II*
List Entry Number:: 1220740
Date first listed:: 06-Jun-1952
List Entry Name:: Benham Park
Statutory Address 1:: Benham Valence House, Benham Valence, Speen, Newbury, RG20 8LU

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: Benham Valence House, Benham Valence, Speen, Newbury, RG20 8LU

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:: West Berkshire (Unitary Authority)
Parish:: Speen
National Grid Reference:: SU 44011 67742

Details

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 23/01/2020

SU 46NW 6/19

SPEEN Benham Valence Benham Park

[Formerly listed as Benham Park, BATH ROAD (south side)]

6.6.52

II*

Mansion. 1772-5 with substantial late C19 and early C20 alterations and additions. Probably by Henry Holland with assistance from Lancelot (Capability) Brown. Bath stone ashlar and stucco. Basement, two storeys and attic. Glazing bar sashes with blind hoods.

South front: nine bays. Central tetrastyle portico with unfluted Ionic columns, and pilasters behind, supporting entablature and balustrade. Entablature and pilasters continued one bay to each side, and cornice carried around building. Attic above with balustrade and urns. Blank rectangular panels between ground floor windows. Plinth and flight of steps leading to central half glazed double doors with architrave and segmental pediment on brackets.

West front: five bays. Central three bays projecting with ground floor windows in recessed arched panels linked by string course at impost level. Central three first floor windows have moulded architraves, bracketed cills and flat hoods. Blank rectangular panels between ground and first floor windows in end bays.

North front: nine bays. Central five bays projecting at ground and first floor level with Ionic pilasters supporting entablature and balustrade. Triangular pediment over central three bays with carved roundel and swags in tympanum. Attic above with balustrade and urns. Railed airey; and rectangular panels with carved swags between ground and first floor. windows. Central doorway with French casements, moulded architrave and bracketed flat hood.

North-east wing; West front: seven bays. String course between ground and first floors; cornice with attic and balustrade with urns above. Central three bays recessed and ground floor with blank arcade. First floor windows with balustraded balconies and flat hoods. Central window with triangular pediment. One storey, three bay wing to left with balustrade, blank arcade with rectangular panels above and central French casements.

Interior. Good; mainly late C19. Two fireplaces in entrance hall and one in main bedroom came from Stowe in 1922. The interior still contains many features of importance in the development of the C18 country house including the small circular double-height vestibule adjoining the inner hall to the west; referred to as 'the tribune' and later adopted by Soane. Grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.

Listing NGR: SU4401167742

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 394434
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (1975), 225
Stroud, D, Henry Holland His Life and Architecture, (1966)
'Murrays Architectural Guide' in Berkshire, (1949), 143
'Country Life' in Country Life, (), 36-39
'Architects Journal' in 16 April, (1975)
Websites
British Geological Survey, Strategic Stone Study, accessed 5 February 2020 from https://www.bgs.ac.uk/mineralsuk/buildingStones/StrategicStoneStudy/EH_atlases.html
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 3 Berkshire,

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.