Swallowfield Park and Adjoining Stable Block

Details

SWALLOWFIELD CHURCH ROAD SU 76 NW (North-east side) 8/37 Swallowfield Park and adjoining 1.8.52 Stable Block (formerly listed as Swallow field Park and gateway from garden onto path leading to courtyard) G.V. II* Large country house and stables in parkland, now residential apartments. Late C17 by Talman for the second Earl of Clarendon, adapted and altered in 1820 by William Atkinson for Sir Henry Russell. Restored c1975. Rendered brick and brick, with hipped slate roofs of different heights. Main block is H-plan with wings projecting to the entrance front, and more at the rear; the stable block is centred round an arcaded courtyard open to the west and adjoining the main block on the north and south corners of the north west wing. 2 storeys. Numerous chimneys. Main block:- rendered with plinth, first floor string, frieze and cornice, and panelled parapet. Sash windows with glazing bars in architrave surrounds. South- west front has a 5-bay centre with central door and rectangular fanlight, under a Greek Doric porch with corner piers and entablature carried forward over pairs of columns. The centre is flanked by projecting wings, each of 2 bays. North-east front is generally similar but without a porch and has niches between windows. South-east front has 9 bays; the centre 3 bays project slightly with 4 Doric pilasters and entablature. Stables:- Brick 2 storeys. The southern section projects in front of the main block with plinth, strings at first floor level and over first floor windows; panelled parapet. Segmental headed sash windows with glazing bars. 4 bays, the right hand bay slightly set back with a half glazed door under arched radiating and wreathed fanlight. To the left of this is an arched stable entrance flanked by pilasters the whole height with stone caps and one casement window over arch. Above on the roof is a bell turret with cupola. This archway is repeated in the opposite wing. Both wings have arcaded corridors on the inner faces now enclosed with round headed windows with glazing bars. To the left of the archway is a southern wing, and at right angles running south-west is a long extension of 12 bays with arched entrance of similar design. Interior of house:- Entrance hall has marble floor, carved stone fireplace enriched with egg and dart and acanthus leaf mouldings, panelled door and window reveals; arched and radiating fanlights over 2 doors, through to an oval vestibule on the garden side, which has a marble floor, an ornate stucco ceiling with 8 panels enriched with swags, festoons and garlands. 4 niches with shell heads, moulded and curved wall panelling between; moulded ceiling cornice; 6-panelled doors with broken pediments over. This room is said to be part of Talman's work, and the stone doorway listed separately is Talman's and formed the doorway from the garden until 1820. A house has stood on this site since very early times. V.C.H. Vol.III p.267. B.O.E. (Berkshire) p.238.

Listing NGR: SU7311965516

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

41592

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Berkshire, (1966), 238
Ditchfield, P H, Page, W, The Victoria History of the County of Berkshire, (1923), 267

Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 3 Berkshire,

End of official list entry

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