Description

HIGH WYCH ROAD 1. 5253 (North Side) Bonks Hill House TL 478 143:6/21 II 2. C17 largely rebuilt and extended circa 1827 for the celebrated rose grower Thomas Rivers (1789-1877) of Rivers Nursery adjoining (founded by John Rivers in 1725 with Bonks Hill as the family house). Regency 2 storey L- shaped stucco villa,with giant pilasters to front facing SE. Hipped slate roof with plastered soffit panelled. Large gable stack to N end where 2 storey timberframed and weatherboarded section of older house remains. Long 1½ storey timberframed weatherboarded range encloses N side of front court. Steep pantiled clasped purlin roof. Now storage, this range has a central red brick chimney possibly indicating earlier domestic use. Yorkshire casement window under eaves. This range is said to have been shortened at the SE end when the road cutting was made in the late C19. 3 window stucco front lined as ashlar over projecting plinth. Large recessed sashes with 6/6 panes and slender glazing bars. 4 giant pilasters framing 3 bays, the central one narrower. Central round headed doorway with simple stucco architrave with flattened torus moulding unbroken except for square panelled impost blocks. Door set in recessed plain arch. Bolection moulded panelled door with large bottom panel, a horizontal mid panel and 2 vertical panels above. Lobed radial fanlight with tapered lantern in centre with 3 front faces. SW front symmetrical. Projecting plinth. Stucco lined as ashlar. Central and corner pilasters. 2 broad full height projections in panels between, pierced by windows. Recessed 6/6 paned sashes. French doors to Gd floor. Projecting C19 single storey conservatory next S corner. Elongated cast iron corner columns carrying iron entablature with interlaced vine scroll frieze and coved cornice. Glazed timber screens. A house of striking appearance in a picturesque setting and with important historical horticultural connections (Country Life, 25 June 1981, p 1838).

Listing NGR: TL4781514359

External Links

• Wikidata Q26395360

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Recommended Books

• 
  Suffolk: East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)