Moor Close

Details

BINFIELD

SU87SW TERRACE ROAD SOUTH
674-1/11/97 (East side (off))
08/04/99 Moor Close

GV II

Large house, now Hall of Residence and part of Newbold
College. 1881, altered and extended in 1914, by Oliver Hill.
MATERIALS: Red brick in English bond with decorative
patterning in dark headers. Old tile roof, irregular with
gables, Dutch gables and several hipped dormers.
PLAN: Irregular plan with battlemented tower rising above the
house.
STYLE: Jacobethan style.
EXTERIOR: part one and a half storeys, part 2 storeys, part 3
storeys. Several large decorative chimneys. Casement windows,
mullion and transom windows, some with stone surrounds.
Entrance (north-west) front: projecting wing on left, single
bay with single dormer and single 4-light window on ground
floor, 3-bay return on south-west has 3 dormers, two 7-light
casement windows on ground floor with projecting entrance
porch between. Entrance porch is of stone with segmental
pediment and moulded stone base. Large plank entrance door of
oak. Garden (south-west) front: irregular. Left hand section
of 3-bays projects at right angles; with single bay end with
Dutch gable and 3-light windows in stone surrounds. South-west
return has 3 Dutch gables, three, 3-light windows in stone
surrounds on first floor, 4-light, 2-light and 6-light windows
on ground floor in stone surrounds. Centre section has 3 Dutch
gables of different heights, left hand gable with 2-light
attic window, other 2 gables with 3-light attic window. Ground
and first floors have casement and mullion and transom windows
of different sizes. On left small, single bay section slightly
recessed with door on ground floor with overlights and
sidelights. Another door near centre, flankedd by 3-light
windows. On right large canted bay with 4 windows of 2-lights
each on first floor and large mullion and transom windows on
ground floor. All windows in this section have stone
surrounds, except attic windows. On right is irregular section
of one and a half storeys with 2 gables and one dormer, and 2
storeys with one gable, all with sash windows and carved
bargeboards. This section appears to be unaltered.
INTERIOR: Oliver Hill's interior work remains almost unaltered
in the ground floor principal rooms; the first floor, although
altered, retains cornices in many rooms. Oak lounge: in
Jacobethan style with wall panelling, large exposed ceiling
joists and principal beam. Large fireplace on one wall with
large stone surround and decorative keystone. Leading up from
the north-west corner of the room is a large dog-leg staircase
in Jacobethan style with shaped balusters, moulded handrail,
moulded dropped finials, and large square newels with moulded
caps. Lounge: L-shape in Rococo style. Wall panel mouldings
with bamboo and leaf ornament; moulded skirtings; moulded
ceiling cornices enriched with acanthus leaf and waterleaf
ornament; Corinthian pilasters. On the south-west wall, gilded
shell niche with moulded architrave and an alabaster scroll
keystone. Chapel (former library): on 2 levels; upper level
contains deep Greek frieze, lower level coffered ceiling with
deep, chamfered, wooden ribs. House forms very picturesque
composition with garden which was also designed by Oliver
Hill. Alterations to house made after garden was complete to
obtain best views of garden. Garden features are listed
separately (qqv), and garden included as Grade II in Register
of Parks and Gardens.
(Register of Parks & Gardens of Special Historic Interest:
Part 3 : Berkshire).

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

489285

Legacy System:

LBS

End of official list entry

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