Odsey House

Details

TL 23 NE GUILDEN MORDEN ICKNIELD WAY (North-west side)

7/129 Odsey House

GV I

Small country house. Circa 1723 for the Second Duke of Devonshire. Palladian house with interior alterations similar to designs by William Kent possibly for the Third Duke of Devonshire. Later alterations c.1795 and late C19. Red brick with lighter red brick and gauged brick dressings. Plain tiled roofs. Three storeys and semi basement. Double pile plan with symmetrical main facades of four bays, with central two bays to rear elevation slightly advanced and pedimented. Side entrance to south-west, and rear entrance at ground level with covered passage to rear kitchen (listed separately). Parapets with plain stone copings; raised brick band with soffit moulding, below third storey windows and continuous across large side stacks; deep brick plinth with segmental arched basement windows each with original six-paned hung sashes. South-east facade: Four bays with fenestration replaced c.1795 and ground storey windows lowered; graded windows of eighteen, twelve and nine-paned hung sashes recessed in painted plastered reveals and with flat gauged brick arches. South-west entrance to north of stack approached by stone steps with plain wrought iron railings; doorcase with fluted wooden pilasters and columns supporting a Doric entablature and pediment; eight-raised and fielded panelled door. North west facade: Original fenestration, brick pediment broken by central round arched hung sash window, tripartite hung sash stair window with round headed central light, and two ground floor bulls eye windows flanking passage; single recessed bays on either side with hung sash windows. Interiors: The original ground floor plan is retained with connected drawing room and dining room to the south-east and with a rear staircase hall between the entrance lobby arid small north-east room. Dining room with ovolo moulded and fielded panelling of two heights with moulded dado and cornice, (the chimney piece is introduced), similar panelling to drawing room but with an enriched modillion and dentil cornice part of an Ionic pilastered chimney composition with a flanking round headed blind cupboard and matching cupboard to right hand with Corinthian pilasters supporting a round headed arch and painted shell interior. The details of the pilasters and cornices are similar to known work by William Kent. Plain ovolo panelling to staircase hall with staircase rising in straight flights to the attic floor; the lower flights, originally closed string, have been modified and rebuilt with alternately turned and twisted balusters to each tread, and with richly carved spandrels. First floor rooms slightly rearranged with original plan retained in north-east room with panelled 'porched' entrance and small closet. The rooms are entered from a lobby with a wide segmental arch flanked by Doric pilasters. The bedrooms have plain ovolo panelling dados and cornices. The second floor rooms have C19 panelling. Staircase to semi basement and rear kitchen passage similar to first floor. Basement with two heated south-east rooms, a dairy and two brick vaulted store rooms. The house and open courtyard were added to the existing Odsey stables and jockey house; Odsey races were revived during the reign of George II.

RCHM report 1950 VCH Vol VIII Cambridgeshire Odsey VCH Yol I Hertfordshire Odsey Races Fordham, G Notes on the Hundred and Manor or Grange of Odsey

Listing NGR: TL2953038053

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

52534

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Doubleday, AH, The Victoria History of the County of Hertford, (1902)
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, (1953)
Salzman, L F, The Victoria History of the County of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, (1982)
Fordham, G, Notes on the Hundred and Manor or Grange of Odsey, ()

End of official list entry

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