Details
PAINSWICK
SO 81 SE
2/17 Tocknell's Court
21.10.55
GV II*
Country house. c1570 and c1640. Probably for Edward Tocknell, or Walter
Tocknell, much modification, especially to garden works, by George Newland, in
1716. Limestone rubble'with ashlar dressings, stone slate roofs. A long narrow
wing of late C16 plus an L-shaped larger extension or modification of the mid
C17; the entrance is in the linking arm immediately facing the C17 stair. Front
to river is 2½ storeys plus basement, 3 windows; double gabled, between which a
large inserted sun-dial with gnomon. At ground floor two, 4-light casements
with stops dropped from continuous string course; low left is a 2-light plain
chamfer casement to basement, and two small single lights below and flanking
access stone steps to central 2-panel fielded door under flat hood on consoles;
at first floor 3+2+3-light, and a 2-light to each gable, all windows recessed
hollow chamfer under stopped drips and with leading. Gables with saddleback
copings continued on this front as parapet copings beyond gables. South front,
to left, has early gable in 2½ storeys forward, left: single light over 3-light
over 2-light recessed ovolo mould casements that to first floor with stopped
drip course; saddle back coping and small square finial and ball finish. To
left a small one storey extension with oval oculus and plank door. Wing return
right has at ground floor a 2-light ovolo-mould casement in former door opening,
and a 3-light C20 hollow-mould under a 3-light ovolo-mould, all to stopped
drips. Main entry front is two slightly uneven-gabled with various casements,
and at first floor has 8-pane sashes in C18 architraves. Ground floor right
2-light hollow-chamfer casement with drip mould continued from river frontage.
Central fine 2-panel fielded door under flat canopy with moulded edge on decora-
tive brackets. Here also are two lead down pipes with hopper-heads inscribed GN
(for Newland) 1716, probably date also for the door and hood. North end has
coped gable and 2½ storey single window fenestration. Back has various ovolo-
mould and hollow-mould casements. Ashlar stacks to south-east gable, at back,
right of river block, and to gable left of 1570 block), all with moulded cap-
pings. Interior: stone flagged entry has straight flight stair in polished
pine, square newels, broad moulded handrail and turned balusters, returned to
straight landing and repeated to upper floor; beneath this stone part-winder
stair to stone flagged basement. To this basement stair an internal small
2-light glazed opening from a single stone, lighting wine cellar. Left of door
a second wide stone straight stair linking to 1570 block and perhaps part of the
original build. To right Drawing Room with large stone square opening ovolo-
mould fireplace, two deep chamfered and stopped beams, the door entering direct
from the river front, and a painted fielded panel partition giving to a further
small room with a broad very flat 4-centred arch stone Tudor fireplace, possibly
from the 1590 build. Left, back, kitchen with stone floor, two 2-light hollow-
mould windows, and a wide bressummer fireplace, possibly a C20 renewal.
Parallel early block has deep chamfer beams to later kitchen area; tack room in
extended unit also a heavy chamfered and stopped beam. First floor, bedroom
over Drawing Room has smaller but similar ovolo-mould fireplace, flanked by
2-panel door under splat baluster ventilator; smaller room beyond a flat
4-centre arched Tudor fireplace as below. The Study in old block has two deep
chamfered beams, and a large late C20 fireplace in excellent 'Tudor replica'
form. Adjoining is a chamfered door frame with basket-handle arch and contempo-
rary plank door probably of 1570, and a part timber-framed partition. A secon-
dary stair includes a north-facing 2-light small arched-head light out of a
single stone. Roof is A frame to diagonal ridge pieces, heavy principals,
rafters mostly renewed. There are many C18 or late C17 2-panel doors, and some
earlier moulded plank doors. The building is an interesting mixture which needs
a full survey investigation to sort out its chronological growth. With its
gates and walls (qv) and farm group (qv) it stands largely unaltered in the
unspoiled landscape of the valley. (Country Life, April 17, 1915.)
Listing NGR: SO8813011885
