Description

ASHBURY
SU28SE
8/1 Ashdown House
10/11/52 (Formerly listed as Ashdown House,
pavilion and outbuildings attached)
GV I

Country house, c.1662 probably by Captain William Winde for William 1st Earl of
Craven. Chalk ashlar with grey Bath stone dressings and stacks; stone slate
roof. Carolean design, with Dutch and French influences. Square double-depth
(5x5 bays) plan. 3-storey with attic and basement, 5- window range. East front
has stone steps with mid C20 iron railings up to central 6-panelled door with
eared architrave: over door is balustraded apron on brackets beneath 1st floor
window, with pediment on scrolled brackets 6-light mullioned and transomed
ground- and first-floor windows, similar 4- light windows above; all have C20
plate glass. Bath stone base, raised stone quoins, moulded strings at floor
level and bold modillioned cornice. 3 pedimented dormers on east and west
sides; square flat top to roof surrounded by balustrading; central octagonal
lantern, lighting central staircase, has domed roof and large golden ball
finial; hipped roof, end stacks. West elevation similar but with door
approached by steps with original stone balustrade and ball finials to newels.
Interior: many fireplaces inside were installed c.1960, with the exception of
original fireplace in second floor front left room. All rooms retain original
shuttering with panelled reveals, plaster cornices and all original doors.
Floor of c.1960 to entrance hall: open-well stairs with closed string and
moulded balusters carried to second floor; panelled dado; bolection-moulded
panels to ceiling. Bolection-moulded dado; shouldered architrave to rear
doorway with has carved consoles supporting scrolled pediment and central bust.
Semi-circular arch with moulded imposts with pulvinated frieze and moulded
cornice. Bolection-moulded panelling to front left room; elaborate acanthus
leaf cornice and original plaster ceiling with central wreath of leaf coving to
rear left room. (Buildings of England, Berkshire, pp. 72-73; Ashdown House
Berkshire, The National Trust, 1975.)

Listing NGR: SU2820382009

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Ashdown House at Wikipedia
• Ashdown House official website
• Wikidata Q4804782

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

• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)