Details
WISBECH NORTH BRINK
TF 4509
5/154 No. 15
(Peckover House)
GV I
Fine house built in 1722. Wings attributed to Algenon Peckover
(1803-1893) in 1878 but designed by Edward Boardman of Norwich.
Original late C18 bank to west included in these C19 additions.
Local amber brick with red brick, and gauged red brick details.
Lead roofs; four internal side stacks. Three storeys with half-
basements. Square plan of five 'bays'. Giant pilasters at
quoins. Panelled parapet with stone copings, moulded, dentil
enriched cornice of gauged brick. Gauged brick bands between
floors. Vertical red brick bands link windows with gauged brick
aprons and segmental arches. Twelve-paned hung sash windows
decrease in height at each floor. Four basement windows. Some
windows original C18. Fine central, oolitic limestone doorcase
with rusticated jambs and dentil enriched segmental pediment,
approached by four stone steps. Entrance door with eight raised
and fielded panels and round-headed fanlight with interlacing
glazing bars. Garden elevation has a fine stone staircase with
balustrade leading up to pedimented doorcase with Venetian
window and three-light lunette above, both possibly inserted in
mid C18. Flanking wings, c.1878 and c.1890, single storey,
curved in plan, of matching materials. Wing to east with
parapet and two, single-light and one, three-light hung sash
window with slender paired, columnar mullions. Wing to west
with similar elevation but with open porch to original late C18
side entrance. Late C18 single-storey bank with hipped roof
exists in part, masked by garden wall. Original openings
blocked; strong room survives at basement level and small safe
under floor boards+; shelving at ceiling height possibly
original and used for ledgers. The interior decoration is
particularly noteworthy and is of two periods. Early work
possibly by craftsmen from Houghton Hall, Norfolk; the
Palladian/Rococco work c.1760 carried out by the Southwell
family. All rooms have original panelling, window cases with
shutters and window seats, richly ornamented chimney pieces, and
pedimented doorcases and ceiling cornices. Six-panelled doors
with original brass locks (night locks in bedrooms) and hinges,
archways with panelled soffits and pilasters. Rococo details
added to some room decoration, ie ceiling of west, front
bedroom. Fine staircase with Vitruvian scroll string repeated
as a band. Venetian window in staircase hall with very fine
coffered, plastered ceiling of ribbon work, foliage, and shells
with 'free' foliage lamp boss. Servants stair closed- string
with slender balusters and pine rail. Pine floors; hall floor
geometric limstone with black (Belgian) marble setts. Wing to
east originally furnished as a library for Algenon Peckover.
Service basement, brick vaulted, has large cooking hearth in
kitchen with early C20 cooking range made in Wisbech, original
lead-lined sink, seats to servants hall and limestone floor.
Peckover House has been the property of the National Trust since
1948 originally the home of the Peckover, banking family from
1877.
Sources:
+Personal communciation with Mr. Garnon, the Custodian of
Peckover House.
NT, Peckover House, Wisbech, 1978.
VCH Cambs, p.242.
Pevsner, Buildings in England, po500.
Watson, 1827, Walker and Craddock, 1847, Gardiner, p.34, 1898,
Histories of Wisbech.
Photographs and prints, C18 and C19, W. & F. Mus.
Country Life, 1947.
Wisbech Society Annual Report, 1921.
Listing NGR: TF4585809662
