Details
PAINSWICK A46 (off east side)
SO 81 SE
2/21 Tocknells House
II
Large detached house. 1860 by Benjamin Bucknall for Codringtons of Tocknells
Court (qv - not to be confused with this item). Limestone ashlar, plain tile
roofs. A four-square block, with half-octagonal staircase bay and projecting
gabled wing to the right on entry front, a low gabled wing attached, left. Two
storeys and attics, part basement. Entrance front has one or 2-light casements
to the stair tower, then centrally a 3-light mullion and transom over porch; in
coped gable, right a small quatrefoil vent over 2-light over 3-light mullion and
transom casement, no window at ground floor level. Two continuous chamfered
strings. In projecting gabled porch flanked by 3 openings now with plate glass,
pair of plank doors with strap hinges. To left of stair is lean-to with a
2-light and a single light opening. Beyond, set back, lower block with plank
door. Return right has coped gable over a 3-light transomed casement with
stopped hood, above a 2-storey canted bay with 1:3:1 transomed casements at each
level, and with cut stone hipped top. To left, in projecting arm, a 1 over a
2-light transomed casement. Continuous strings at two levels. Garden front is
2 storeys, attic, and part basement; two gabled, various transomed casements in
1, 2, 3, or 4 lights; off-centre, right, a door flanked by single lights. Two
ridge stacks, to right with 4 terminals, and to left with 8; in each case lofty
cylindrical terminals with heavy mediaeval style cappings. An eccentric feature
of the main house is the use of stone gutters on brackets, and octagonal stone
downpipes, distanced from the walls. The low wing to the right has a 6-light
casement and two gabled dormers. All windows have chamfered members, and lofty
angular shouldered tops to the mullions. The interior not accessible at time of
survey (April 1986) but reputed to be essentially as created, with boldly
modelled stone fireplaces, stone skirtings, and a main stone staircase surround-
ing an enclosed service stair in its own shaft. A somewhat dour but very
remarkable design by an ardent student of Viollet-le-Duc's precepts; Bucknall
was a local man, responsible also for the great unfinished mansion at
Woodchester Park (qv Woodchester cP) not far distant.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
133197
Legacy System:
LBS
End of official list entry
