Southill Park House

Details

TL 1442 SOUTHILL SOUTHILL PARK

13/225 Southill Park House 16.1.52

GV I

Country house. C17 origins, altered earlier C18 (probably by Isaac Ware) for the Byng family, by the addition of wings and pavilions to W and E. Purchased 1795 by Samuel Whitbread I, brewery founder and MP for Bedfordshire. Extensively remodelled 1795-1800 for Samuel Whitbread II by Henry Holland. Holland reworked the central block and the outer pavilions, and rebuilt the linking wings. Walls refaced in Portland and Totternhoe stone. Slate roofs. Central block is of 3 storeys and attics with slightly projecting pedimented bay both to N and S. This block is linked to 2 2-storeyed pedimented pavilions to W and E by ranges of one storey and attics. A basement runs the whole length of the building and is lit from the N. N entrance front: rather plain. The ground floor of the central block and both floors of the side pavilions are rusticated, the rest is in smooth ashlar. 3:4:1:3:1:4:3 window facade, all the original sashes replaced by plate glass casements. The only front entrance is an inconspicuous door in the W bay of the central block. To the centre of the middle bay is a single storey canted bay window. A porte- cochere was added late C19 at the W end, which became the main entrance. A balustrade on the edge of the basement well shields the basement from view. To the E a low 2-storeyed service wing adjoins, of white brick with slate roof. This II window range has a Venetian window at each end, and sash windows with glazing bars in between. S garden front: same arrangement of rustication. Fenestration arranged 3:3:1:3:1:3:3, again mostly with later casements, but retaining some original sashes with glazing bars to the ground floor of the main block and link wings. Portico to central bay of main block, loggie to link wings, all with paired lonic columns and surmounted by balustrades. To E end is later C19 orangery, of red brick, with stone pilasters separating the 6 tall mullion and transom windows. Hipped glass roof. Eaves cornice surmounted by stone urns. Interior: retains most of Holland's original decoration. Hall has some plaster relief sopraportes by George Garrard, whilst the drawing room and boudoir ones are paintings by Sawrey Gilpin. The painted boudoir ceiling and some other panels are by A L Delabriére.

(C Hussey, "Southill Park", Country Life, 12th July 1930, PP 42-48; 19th July 1930, pp.80-86; 26th July 1930, pp.108-114. C Hussey (ed.), Southill, A Regency House, London, 1951. D. Stroud, Henry Holland, His Life and Architecture, London, 1966.)

Listing NGR: TL1433342066

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

415219

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Stroud, D, Henry Holland His Life and Architecture, (1966)
Hussey, C, Southill a Regency House, (1951)
Country Life in Country Life, (1930)
Country Life in 12 July, (1930), 42-48
Country Life in 19 July, (1930), 80-86
Country Life in 26 July, (1930), 108-114

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 2 Bedfordshire,

End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.