Beaston, Including Forecourt Containing Wall and Gate Piers to North-north-east

Details

SX 76 NE BROADHEMPSTON BEASTON 1/50 Beaston, including forecourt - containing wall and gate piers to 23.8.55 north-north-east - II* Small manor house circa 1740-50; built and inhabited for 250 years by the Rowe family, who also rebuilt the nearby larger Kingston House in Staverton parish in 1744. Beaston is reputed to have been built by the younger brother. Modified internally probably in later C18. Service wing remodelled in C19. Principal block to right is of small ashlar blocks, slate hung to rear on first floor. Service wing is of rubble, lower end of it is rendered. Hipped slate roof with coved cornice to principal block. Rendered brick gable end stacks, service wing has large projecting lateral brick stack at rear. Cottage at lower end of it has large rubble axial stack and rendered rubble lateral stack at rear. Interesting provincial adapation of Classical C18 country house plan; its modest size is in contrast to its grand exterior. The 2 blocks are probably of the same basic build although the service range to the left may be a remodelling of an earlier house which was downgraded. The right hand one, housing the principal accommodation, has been less altered. It is single depth with a central entrance hall which has a staircase at the rear. The principal room is to the right. To the left a passage runs along the front of this block leading to the service wing, behind it is a smaller reception room, both rooms have end stacks. The service wing projecting at right angles at left end consists of 2 rooms, the larger one probably the original kitchen. Beyond it is what appears to be a separate cottage which might possibly be an earlier building or alternatively have provided an annexe to the main house. On the evidence of some of the internal fittings the principal block was slightly remodelled in the late C18 internally. The service wing was remodelled externally in circa mid C19. 2 storeys, principal block has attic. Imposing symmetrical 5-window front of circa late C18 12-pane sashes in original openings with central doorway. Probably original 8 fielded panel door with moulded wooden architrave and simple stone pilaster at either side. Stone doorhood supported on stone brackets. Stringcourse above ground and first floor windows. Windows have flat stone arches. Rear also has symmetrical 5-window facade of contemporary 12-pane sashes with tall central 21- pane stair window at first floor. Stringcourse above first floor windows. 2 C20 gabled dormer windows, replacing original ones. Service wing projects at left-hand end from front of house. It has asymmetrical 2-window front of circa mid C19 12-and 16-pane sashes with flat stone arches above. C20 plank door to left. At the rear of the wing is almost regular 3-window facade of similar windows, all with brick dressings; large projecting lateral stack to right of centre with C20 porch to its right. Beyond that is projecting slate hung wing to attached cottage. Cottage has regular 2-window front of C19 and C20 casements; the right hand ground floor window is early C19 sash with 2 lights each of 12 panes. Interior of principal block preserves original room layout with some original features and some later ones. Principal room has original moulded cornice. C19 pine chimneypiece. Late C18 raised and fielded panel shutters to rear window. The room to the left of the hall has its original moulded cornice. Original 6-fielded panel door. Late C18 Adam style chimneypiece with Corinthian pilasters. To either side of fireplace is glass-fronted mahogany cabinet with Chippendale style glazing bars, probably contemporary with chimneypiece. Contemporary raised and fielded panel shutters as in the other principal room. Passage at the front of this room has archway at either end with dropped keystone and flat pilaster to either side. Good quality original open string staircase has heavy moulded handrail ramped to newels with curtail step. Column newels and 2 turned balusters to each step with carved brackets. Room layout on first floor identical to ground floor. Corridor at front has one identical archway. Principal bedroom has late C18 Adam style chimneypiece and original 3 fielded-panel door. Similar panelled surround to rear windows as in ground floor rooms. Victorian fireplace with arched iron grate in other principal bedroom with panelled surround to 1 window. Attic rooms also originally had fireplaces. Cottage at end of service wing has back to back fireplaces with plain timber lintel on one side and rough voussoir arch on the other. This house is an interesting and well preserved example of how a provincial gentry family adapted the design of the Classical C18 country house to their own means and purposes. Despite an imposing facade the principal block has a surprisingly modest interior and rather than incorporating the service rooms into it they were housed in a wing at one side which unbalances the symmetry of the main house. These idiosyncracies, however, give vernacular character to a house with grander pretensions.

Listing NGR: SX7932566254

Legacy

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Legacy System number:

84755

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LBS

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