Description

ST GILES STEVENSTONE PARK
SS 52 19 IN THE WOOD
17/218 The Library
4.10.60 (formerly listed as Garden
Pavilion at Stevenstone House)

II*

Former library belonging to Stevenstone House (q.v.) now ruined. Late C17-early C18,
carefully renovated in 1980 by the Landmark Trust. It has been suggested that
William Talman may have been involved here. Front is Flemish bond red brick with
limestone ashlar detail; the rest is local stone rubble, white-washed west end,
plastered north and east; stone rubble stack and brick chimneyshaft with moulded
limestone coping; slate roof.
Plan: Single cell rectangular plan building facing south-south-west, say south. It
is terraced into the garden terraces. The library has a rear lateral stack. It is a
tall room over a basement with an open arcade front.
Exterior: The front is good. Symmetrical 3-window front of tall round-headed sash
windows with glazing bars set in limestone eared architraves ; bolection-moulded with
keystone and sill consoles carved as acanthus leaves. Basement is recessed behind a
3-bay arcade of brick round-headed arches with large limestone keystones carved as
human-head masks each surmounted by an heraldic cartouche ,the most ornate, the Rolle
arms, in the centre. Each end are limestone ashlar quoins and the bays are flanked
by 4 giant pilaster orders; fluted pilasters on pedestals with Ionic capitals and
ornate eaves cornice including frieze; moulded, pulvinated egg-and-dart and
modillions carved as acanthus leaves. Roof is hipped each end with sprocketted
eaves.
The rear has a plainer 3-window front of similar sash windows without the architraves
and a fanlight on the terrace top lights the basement. Accordingly to the previous
list description a library-level balcony was gained by "a double curved flight of
steps to first floor with wrought iron railings". This has been replaced with timber
stairs and balcony fenced with a balustrade of C18 turned timber balusters.
Interior: The Library has an original moulded plaster rib design and some original
joinery detail. The C18 chimneypiece was moved here from the old mansion according
to the previous list description but may be the original in situ.
Although the Rolle mansion, Stevenstone House (q.v.), is now in ruins. The Library
forms part of an attractive group of subsidary buildings, several of which are
listed.
Source: Devon SMR. The Landmark Handbook (1988) ed. Charlotte Haslam pp. 77-79.

Listing NGR: SS5268419337

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536422

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

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  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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