Daylesford House

Details

ADLESTROP SP 22 NE 5/1 Daylesford House 25.8.60 GV I

Country house. Built 1787-93 by S.P. Cockerell for Warren Hastings with C19 additions. Ashlar and coursed, squared and dressed limestone, slate and leaded roofing, ashlar stacks. 'H'- shaped main body with late C19 flat-roofed extension with projecting porch and portico between projecting wings onto east front. C19 stable block curving away towards west from north wall. Neo classical style house with French details. Symmetrical eastern front; 3 storey central block with cellar under, late C19 entrance extension flanked by single 2-storey bays, 2-storey wings projecting forward right and left. 1:1:7:1:1-windowed; 12-pane sashes to first floor of central block, 9-pane sashes to second floor, single bulls-eye windows to single bays projecting forwards either side within festooned surrounds and aprons; segmental pediment over single sash windows below. C20 glazed door within moulded surround with triangular pediment supported by console brackets to left wing at front, blocked window above. Large single round-headed windows with glazing bars flanking projecting open-sided central porch with portico supported by paired Doric columns. Round-headed windows with marginal glazing bars in side walls of porch. Ashlar pilasters at corners of main body rising up to string, continued as band across facade between first and second floor windows, stone balustrade to 2-storey wings and C19 entrance extension. Symmetrical south front; 2 storeys and basement. Chamfered rustication to basement floor. Central block flanked by canted 3 storey bays supported by Doric columns. Central part-glazed panelled door to balcony with architrave swept out at bottom and triangular pediment supported on console brackets. Floating cornices supported on corbels above 12-pane sashes within moulded architraves either side of door. Wrought iron balconies to upper storey. Canted bays either side lit by 12 and 6-pane sashes with and without moulded architraves and floating cornices. Symmetrical 1:3:3:3:1-windowed west front; central 3-storey semi-circular projection. 3 storey main body stepped down to 2 storeys for one bay far right and left, single bay wings projecting forwards either side; 6 and 12-pane sashes to ground and first floors of wings with string continued at same height across facade of main body. Stone balustrade above string where it runs around the semi- circular projection, frieze below decorated with festoons, frieze supported on Ionic columns flanking 2-light French windows. 3 bulls-eye windows with festooned surrounds lighting ceiling of dome, similar windows to 2-storey bays right and left of main body. Stone balustrade to projecting wings. Dome-shaped roof with large pointed finial over semi-circular bay. Classical style stable block attached on north; 2 storeys with triangular pediment over central portion. Central circular relieving arch below over part- glazed double door with triple keystone flanked by casements with triple keystones. 6-pane sashes to first floor. Band between ground and first floor interrupted by triple keystones over formerly single width openings, now double width garage openings. Clock lantern with domed roof and weather vane from ridge behind pediment. House interior: late C19 open string stair. Original cornices, 6- panel doors and surrounds. Original marble fireplaces including white and grey marble fireplaces with sculptured overmantel depicting Father Thomas in library, by John Bacon 1793. White marble fireplace by Thomas Banks with frieze depicting Hindu sacrifice, single carved figures of Indian women on uprights either side, mirror within ornate surround with carved festoons over. Dining room formerly contained white marble fireplace, possibly by Thomas Banks with 2 carved elephants on frieze (now in upstairs room). Richly decorated fluted Corinthian columns within main reception room. Circular boudoir under the dome; arcade of narrow reeded and bound columns with lotus capitals around walls. Small painted ceiling depicting starry sky lit naturally from bulls-eye windows hidden from the room by the false ceiling. (Refs: P.F. Norton: 'Daylesford' Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of America Vol. 22, 1963 and B. Little: 'Calcutta in the Cotswolds', Transactions of the Bristol and Glos. Archaeological Society, 1980, Pl, also Margaret Martyn 'An Exiles Dream Realised' Country Life 23/1/1975).

Listing NGR: SP2543526464

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

130113

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of America in Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians of America, Vol. 22, (1963)
Country Life in Country Life, (1975)
Transactions of Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society in Transactions of Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society, (1980)
Country Life in 23 January, (1975)

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 16 Gloucestershire,

End of official list entry

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