Details
NEWHOUSE ROAD
1.
5113
Sheepridge
New House Hall
SE 1519 17/27 3.3.52.
II*
2.
Circa 1550. Built by Thomas Brook I (whose will describes it as recently built in
1553). Hall range and solar wing probably altered by Thomas Brooke IV (1581-1638)
whose initials appear in the solar chimneypiece. East wing rebuilt in 1865 and
refronted in 1903.
Hammer dressed stone. Pitched stone slate roof. 2 storeys with attics. South front.
Hall range has continuous string and late C17 or early C18 moulded eaves cornice,
very high parapet with 3 diagonally placed ball finials. Hall has stone mullioned
and transomed casements, in double chamferred reveals with 3 + 3 lights. One original
iron-framed casement. 1st floor has a similar window, but smaller. Planked double
doors of late C17 or early C18 moulded and shouldered surround with monolithic lintel.
Above this one stone mullioned and transomed casement in double chamfered surround.
Solar range has 2 continuous stringcourses and a shallow gable with ornamental finial.
Ground and 1st floors both have one stone mullion and transom casement window each,
in double chamfered reveals, and with 4+4 lights. Attic storey has one 3-light
stone mullioned window, double chamfered reveals and dripmould. Return side to hall
range has one range of stone mullioned and transomed casements in double chamfered
reveals, lower window appears to have original iron-framed casement. Strings
continue round west front of solar wing, which has an almost complete set of stone
mullioned and transomed windows in double chamfered reveals. From south to north
they have following number of lights: 4 (one original iron-framed casement on ground
floor), 4 (same, on both floors), 2, 3 on 1st floor (with one light fitted with an
C18 sash with glazing bars) and 4 on ground floor (with 2 mullions removed), 3 (ground
floor obscured by C19 extension), 3 (ground floor the same). Strings continue round
back of solar range. Ground floor has 2-storey mullioned casements in chamfered
surrounds, both originally 4-light, but both with one mullion removed. 1st floor has
one 4-light stone mullioned and transomed casement in double chamfered reveals.
Attic storey has one 2-light stone mullioned casement in table chamfered reveals.
Return side to hall range is same as south elevation, except for one half-blocked
2-light stone mullioned window in double chamfered reveals to basement.
Rear of hall range has interrupted string course, and high parapet. Three 3-light
stone mullioned casements with double chamfered reveals (ground floor one with
iron-framed casement and hoodmould, highest one with piece of moulding over voussoirs),
and one 2-light stone mullioned and transomed casement in double chamfered reveals.
Door opposite screens passage in chamfered surround, with monolithic triangular-shaped
lintel. Nearly all windows in solar wing, and hall window in hall range, have
original diagonally placed iron bars inside glazing. C19 wing is unobtrusive.
Interior
Hall Range Staircase probably late C17. Partitions, and door below it have bolection
moulded panelling. Closed string. Double twisted balusters. Moulded handrail.
Newels with double curved moulded tops, bottom one with acanthus ornament. Bolection
panelled partition and door to small room at half-landing level. Ceiling above is
apparently of same date: basic plaster oval, ornamented with laurel: 4 grotesque masks
and 4 bunches of foliage and grapes: festoons of leaves and flowers. Hall ceiling is
also late C17, which could either mean that Thomas Brooke IV's alterations had left
an unceiled hall, or that the hall range was not altered by him (his initials only
appear in the solar), and was not rebuilt until the time of Joshua Brooke (d 1652)
or Sara Brooke (d 1683), his widow, or even (less likely) their daughter Hellen
Townley (d 1719). Simple plaster oval wreath, gadrooned, and with festoons of leaves,
pomegranates and flowers. Centre has 2 putti's heads and more foliage. Ashlar,
fireplace with 2-centred arch and moulded surround. Re-set dolerail on west side,
placed in its present position in 1865: turned balusters. Above hall. Cupboard on
landing with 7 simply ornamented panels. Door to room above hall has bolection moulded
surround and 2 similar panels.
Kitchen to rear: cupboards with air holes in ornamental patterns, and ornamental
iron hinges.
Solar Range Solar has chimneypiece initialled "TMB" for Thomas and Margaret Brooke,
ie Thomas Brooke IV and his wife Margaret Hanson, who died in 1615. Stone fireplace
with ovolo-moulded surround, fancy stops and 4-centred arch with ornamental spandrels.
Wooden overmantel: gadrooned and dentilled mantelshelf with semi-balusters below and
4 barbarously ornamented columns above, separating simply ornamented round-arched
porch. Room above the solar has the initials "TDB", ie Tomas Brooke IV and his
second wife Dorothie Crosland, whom he married in 1624, and who died in 1634.
Synopsis of building history The conclusion might be drawn that the house was built
by Thomas Brooke I shortly before 1553, that the left hand (solar) wing was rebuilt
by Thomas Brooke IV by 1615, its decoration only completed between 1624 and 1634,
that Joshua or Sara Brooke rebuilt the hall range in the later C17, that various
minor adjustments (eg front door) were made by Hellen Townley circa 1700, and
that the right hand wing was rebuilt in 1865.
Listing NGR: SE1551119754
