Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1305285
- Date first listed:
- 14-Jul-1955
- List Entry Name:
- Ranston
- Statutory Address:
- RANSTON
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2005-05-10
- Reference:
- IOE01/12820/09
- Rights:
- © Mr Murray Pearson. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1305285
- Date first listed:
- 14-Jul-1955
- List Entry Name:
- Ranston
- Statutory Address 1:
- RANSTON
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- RANSTON
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Iwerne Courtney or Shroton
- National Grid Reference:
- ST8628812216
Details
ST 8612 IWERNE COURTNEY OR SHROTON RANSTON
12/108 Ranston
14-7-55
GV I
Country House. West front 1753, remainder rebuilt 1961-3 incorporating much
C18 material. 1753 work for Thomas Ryves of Blandford possibly by himself.
1961-3 work by Louis Osman. Rendered walls with ashlar dressings. Slate roof
obscured behind parapets. Symmetrical disposed moulded ashlar stacks. The west
front is in the Paladian style. Symmetrical 2 storeys with basements, 5 bays,
1:3:1. Central three bays have a giant order of fluted Corinthian pilasters
carrying an entablature and pediment. The cornice continues over the outer bay.
The basement storey and quoins are of rusticated ashlar. The parapet has
sections of open balustrade over the outer bays and, together with the acroterion
of the pediment, is surmounted by vase finials. Uniform 15-pane sashes to the
ground floor and 6-pane sashes above. Balustraded double flight of stone steps
with lunette window to basement are a copy of an original flight removed in the
C19. 1961-3 facades are stylistically in keeping with the west front. The
east front has a heavily rusticated central doorway with a Venetian window
over. Internally all features are reset. The staircase dated 'Thos Ryves 1753'
has stone steps, a scrolled wrought iron balustrade and a moulded wooden handrail.
Panelled paintings by Casali set in ceilings and walls. Entrance hall has Ionic
colonnades, possibly by the Bastards of Blandford. Similar colonnade above has
typical Corinthian columns with inwardly curving volutes (Newman and Pwvsner).
Restored rich rococo plasterwork. In the basement is a reset piscina of uncertain
provenance under a round arch with egg and dart embellishment. Also incorporated
into the basement are the remains of 2 C16 or C17 stone mullioned windows with
chamfered jambs and mullions.
Although the house has been extensively rebuilt it incoporates many fine C18
features and is a rare example of the Palladian idiom in Dorset.
(RCHM, Dorset, vol III, p 128, no 3 Newman J and Pevsner N, The Buildings of
England, Dorset 1972, p 237, Oswald, Arthur, Country Houses of Dorset, 1935,
p 1935, p 161/2).
Listing NGR: ST8628812216
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 103197
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1970), 128
Pevsner, N, Newman, J, The Buildings of England: Dorset, (1972), 237
Oswald, A, Country Houses of Dorset, (1935), 161-162
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 12 Dorset,
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 08:53:35.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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