Bingham's Melcombe House

Details

ST 70 SE MELCOMBE HORSEY BINGHAM'S MELCOMBE

10/141 26-1-56 Bingham's Melcombe House

GV I

House, Gatehouse and hall probably of early C16 origin. Other additions and alterations of the C16, C17, C18, C19 and C20. Walls of rubble, banded flint and stone, ashlar and 'chequerboard' stone and flint. Gable ended roofs of stone slate and tile with a variety of ashlar and brick stacks. Plan: informal grouping around a court- yard; the north range contains the hall with an oriel flanked by two wings; the east part of the south range is formed by the gatehouse; connecting the gatehouse with the hall are a sequence of service and other rooms of various builds. Mainly of 2 storeys. The windows are mainly stone mullioned or C18 sashes. The most important architectural feature of the house is the mid C16 oriel of early rennaissance pattern. This has elaborate corner standards of 3 stages with individualistic ionic capitals,and spiral-turned pinnacles bearing eagle crests. The centre-piece which incorporates the upper floor window is finely carved and has a central achievement of arms flanked by side standards which project beyond the gable coping and terminate in spiral turned pinnacles. It is regarded as one of the best examples of the regional group of mason-sculptors probably based in Ham active at the period. The north porch has a pedimented, early classical doorway, dated 1583, rescued from Tyneham House. Interior features: C17 and C18 panelling in various locations; gatehouse has arch-braced collar truss roof and an elaborate C17 overmantle with carved figures; hall largely remodelled, C19 but retains an C18 moulded cornice and 4-centred arch to oriel with moulded responds and foliate capitals; oriel has fireplace with triangular head and foliate spandrels, 2 C16 doors with 4-centred heads and foliate spandrels, and upper floor C16 fireplace with moulded lintel and jambs together with an original plaster barrel vault ceiling; dinning room has mid C18 chimney piece with side-scrolls, carved mask and foliage, c1600 elaborate overmantle with carved 'Adam and Eve figures, c 1600 moulded rib ceiling, original looking-glasses with carved frames and 'hangings'; east wing has early C18 black marble, bolection moulded chimney piece, bolection moulded panelling, contemporary looking glass, c 1725 staircase with turned balusters and newels and moulded remaped handrail; west range has C16/ C17 doors, C16 panelling, C16 overmantle with roundels and arch braced collar beam truss with remains of painted decoration; south range has original open fireplaces and stop-chamfered beams. Various other lesser examples of wood and masonry craftsmanship from a number of periods (see RCHM for details) RCHM, Dorset, vol III, pp 163-168, no 2, Newman, J and Pevsner, N The Buildings of England: Dorset, Penguin, 1972, pp 278-281

Listing NGR: ST7716702143

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

104871

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset III Central, (1970), 163-168
Pevsner, N, Newman, J, The Buildings of England: Dorset, (1972), 278-281

End of official list entry

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