Details
Linton Park (formerly
TQ 74 NF LINTON
5/130 listed as Linton Place)
25.7.52
GV I
Country house. 1730's, for Robert Mann, with additions and alterations
circa 1825 by Thomas and William Cubitt for 5th Earl Cornwallis. Further
altered circa 1938. Brick, stuccoed in c.1825. Slate roof. Double
depth. 1730's central section of 2 storeys and 7 window bays, with
central break. In c.1825, central section raised to 3 storeys and
linear wings added to right and left. Central section 3 storeys, wings
2 storeys, all with basement. Ground floor becomes 'piano nobile' to
rear, and basement becomes ground floor, with slope of land. North
(entrance) front: wings slightly recessed. Centre of central section
breaks forward. Moulded eaves cornice to wings, continued as string
course across central section. Plain parapet to wings. Plain parapet
to central section, with raised balustrading across break. Hipped roofs.
Stuccoed stacks; one to centre of each wing and 6 to central section.
Regular 15-window front of recessed 12-pane sashes in moulded rectangular
architraves, 4 to each wing and 7 to central section, with 3 to central
break. Cornices to ground floor windows. 7 nine-pane sashes to second
floor of central section. Central panelled double doors with large
decorative semi-circular fanlight, in moulded architrave with cornice.
Single-storey tetrastyle Ionic portico spanning break, with plain frieze,
dentilled cornice and plain parapet, breaking forwards in front of door.
Stuccoed balustrade to narrow basement 'area', running east and west
across house from portico and returning along west front. East and west
return elevations of 5 window bays, with 2-storey canted bay to east and
single-storey canted bay to west. South elevation: central section
slightly recessed from wings, but with central break. 1820's terrace to
'piano nobile', about 8 metres wide, with Coade stone anthemion balustrade,
and arcading to basement below. West end curved round gable end with
descending flight of steps. Doric pilasters to corners of wings on
'piano nobile', carrying plain frieze and cornice. Moulded eaves cornice
to wings, continued as string course across central section. Plain
parapet to wings. Balustraded parapet to whole of central section.
Regular 15-window front as north elevation, but formerly with canted bay
to centre of each wing. 15-pane windows without cornices, to 'piano
nobile' of wings, and cross-windows to central section with cornices and
Venetian shutters. Doric pilasters flanking French windows to centre.
Round-headed basement sashes with canted bay of 3 windows to centre of
each wing, beneath terrace. 2-storey tetrastyle Corinthian portico of
1820's to central break, rising from terrace, with plain frieze and
moulded triangular pediment. Interior: only partly inspected. Entrance
hall of 1730's with moulded panelling and cornices, frieze of arabesques,
enriched plaster ceiling, black and white marble fireplace with terms,
and doorcases with shouldered architraves. Room to north-west side of
entrance hall with fielded panelling, moulded and modillioned plaster
ceiling, and shouldered fireplace surround. Service stairs to east of
entrance with C18 ramped fielded panelling. Small room to east of
service stairs with fielded panelling and modillioned cornice.
Cantilevered staircase with wreathed C20 brass handrail and c.1825 crossed
iron balusters, in top-lit well. Small rectangular east central room on
ground floor with painted and gilded ceiling of 1820's. Panelled first-
floor axial corridor with stone slab floor. 3 other rooms on each of
ground and first floors, with moulded cornices and plaster ceilings and
doorcases of 1820's, and with late C18 or C19 chimney pieces. Basement
room with painted brick vault on rectangular piers. (Country Life
March 29th and April 5th, 1946; J. Newman, Buildings of England Series,
West Kent and the Weald, 1980; H. Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of
British Architects, 1978).
Listing NGR: TQ7518849322
