Description

LACOCK BOWDEN HILL
ST 96 NW
(north side)
3/9
Bowden Park
20.12.60
GV I

Country House, 1796 by James Wyatt for Barnard Dickinson, extended
c1850 for Capt. J.N. Gladstone, the C19 extensions reduced and
remodelled c1955 by K. Peacock. Ashlar neo-classical mansion with
low-pitched slate roofs and ashlar stacks. Two storeys, 5-window
front, 3 in full-height semi-circular bow fronted by massive
detached Ionic columns. Continuous entablature and low parapet.
Centre bow is raised on 5 stone steps, 3 ground floor French
windows in architraves, 3 first floor 12-pane sashes in architraves
with sill band. Wings each side are exceptionally well detailed
with broad corner piers and main walling slightly recessed.
Moulded plinth, moulded ground floor sill course, and plain first
floor sill band, broken forward at outer piers. Ground floor 6-
18-6 pane tripartite sash in segmental-headed sunk frame and first
floor finely carved foliage panel. Side elevations have similar
mouldings continued around, but frieze of entablature is omitted.
Five-window ranges of sashes in architraves. Cornices to long
ground floor sashes. C19 matching extension to right of south
side has 2-storey front and centre bow. Three-window range of
sashes, tripartite to centre. Projecting end section includes an
original ground floor with blank arch, part of an orangery, with
C19 upper floor with blank sunk panel and incised sundial. North
L-plan rear wing appears largely c1950 in matching style with door
in ornate corniced doorcase, possibly resited. Outstanding
interiors by Wyatt with complete original plasterwork, marble
fireplaces and mahogany doors.
Bowden Park was a late C17 house built for G. Johnson. Estate was
sold 1751 to E. Dickinson of Monks Park, Corsham, the house rebuilt
for his son (d 1814) and passed to the Dickinson Harmer family
before being sold in 1849 to Captain Gladstone (1807-63), brother
of W. E. Gladstone.
(Conoisseur, April 1961; New Vitruvius Britannicus (1819) Plate 1;
N. Pevsner, Wiltshire, 1975, 120)

Listing NGR: ST9373168235

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17529217

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)