Mascalls

Details

TQ 64 SE PADDOCK WOOD BADSELL ROAD

6/316 Mascalls 3.3.71 previously listed as Mascalls Farmhouse II

House, early C17 or earlier with early and late C19 additions. Early range framed construction, the front elevation tile-hung, the return walls underbuilt in brick to first floor level and tile-hung above. The C19 additions are brick with some tile-hanging including bands of scalloped tiles; peg-tile roofs; brick stacks.

Plan: Irregular plan. The early range is roofed on a north south axis and faces east. It is 2 rooms on plan at present with a right (north) end stack and an axial stack to left of centre. A rear wing at right angles is probably early C19 in date although heavily remodelled in the late C19, and forms a south facing entrance block with a long entrance passage running parallel to the rear wall of the early range and extending into another block to the north. The main stair rises from this passage. A circa 1880s crosswing to the entrance block adjoins at the west, containing one large reception room on the ground floor.

Exterior: 2 storeys, the entrance block 2 storeys and attic. Gable-ended roofs, the gables (including those of dormer windows) with curly C19 bargeboards. Fenestration mostly late C19/early C20, most of the ground floor windows high transomed plate glass windows, the first floor windows large 2- light casements, 2 panes per light. Asymmetrical 2:1 south elevation, with the gabled end of the early (east) block at the right end. Gabled early C19 porch into the south block to the right with a chamfered brick Tudor arched doorway and a glazed outer door and Tudor arched early C19 inner door, the upper panels glazed. The porch gable has ogee bargeboards. French window alongside to the left and, in the end of the early block to the right. 2 first floor casement windows, plus one to the first floor of the early block. 2 gabled attic dormers. The inner (east) return of the late C19 west crosswing has 2 ground floor French windows and 2 gabled dormers with casement windows above a moulded brick cornice. The upper part of the elevation is tile-hung with bands of scalloped tiles. The right (east) return of the house is the front of the early block. This is 3 windows with a C19 gable to the front in the centre with curly bargeboards and a pendant, 2-light gable casement. 3 first floor casements and 3 ground floor French windows, 2 gabled attic dormers. The rear (north) elevation has 3 gables. Early C19 Tudor arched porch, opposed to the front door, with a circa 1860s lean-to porch hood on shaped pierced brackets. The centre and right hand gabled blocks have 2- tier canted bay windows, probably late C19 or early C20. The west return of the crosswing is tile-hung to the first floor with bands of scalloped tiles. Lateral stack with multiple brick shafts, one ground floor French window. The service block to the left (north) preserves a bell fixed to the wall.

Interior: The early block preserves most of the wall framing including wall posts with formed jowls on the rear (west) elevation. Jettied sections (partly boxed in) suggest that it had 2 jettied gables to the west. C17 ceiling carpentry survives in the first floor rooms with scroll stops to the crossbeams. Elsewhere the internal fittings are C19. They include a marble chimney-piece in the principal room of the early block, with vine leaf decoration, fluted jambs and a reeded cornice. The north room, at the end of the entrance passage has a repaired circa 1880s carved Arts and Crafts timber chimney-piece with a fine tiled surround, the tiles depicting vairous crafts and showing, among others, a barber and dyer at work. Other C19 chimney- pieces and iron grates survive on the first floor. The main stair, probably 1840s, has a cast iron balustrade in the form of stylized flowers and a ramped handrail. The entrance passage is divided from the entrance hall to the west by 2 large Tuscan columns, probably early C20 in date. The west crosswing contains a large room with a very high ceiling with a decorated plaster cornice and ceiling frieze. It may have served as a ballroom originally but was described as a billiard room in sales particulars (information from the owner). This room has had a large swimming pool introduced into it.

Roof: The roof of the east range is of clasped purlin and queen strut design to the north of the axial stack with staggered butt purlins to the south.

The house is also identifiable as one mentioned in Siegfried Sassoon's Memoirs of a Fox-hunting Man (1928). It was owned by his Godfather and he visited from his home, Weirleigh (q.v.) in the adjoining parish of Brenchley. During the Second World War it was the home of Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Morgan, Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Command and is said to have been the location for Supreme Command meetings (information from the owner).

Listing NGR: TQ6669044178

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

437523

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Sassoon, S, Memoirs of a Fox Hunting Man, (1928)

End of official list entry

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