Description

SS 44 SE MORTEHOE

3/202 Twitchen House
-
- II

Large house. 1881 for Dr Longstaff. Squared rubble with ashlar dressings to the
openings. Some planted timber framing and slate-hanging to upper storeys. Scantle
slate roofs, with range of moulded brick stacks variously 2, 3 and 4 shafts with
corbelled caps. Complex irregular plane. 3 large parallel gable-ended cross-wings
that to right set back and separated from other two by connecting part of entrance
hall and with 2 gable-ended projections facing north in the angle of the rear
projection. 2 further gable ended projections at each end. Old English/Jacobethan
style. 2-storeys and attic storey with carved bargeboards, some with moulded apex
finals and moulded bressumers to the jettied gable ends, paticularly ornate at
south gable end. Asymmetrical disposition of mullioned and transomed windows,
mostly with small panes with various diamond,lozenge and square pattern cames.
First floor windows are mainly of timber with moulded mullions, ground floor
splayed stone mullion and transom windows. Single-storey porch on west side
across the angle of the recessed right-hand entrance hall and cross-wing. Double-
chamfered porch surround with four-centred arch, foliated spandrels and scultpured
griffin in high relief to right side of debased fleur-de-lys frieze. Heraldic
shield in stone panel above bearing 1881 date. To right of porch two 3-light
windows, the lower windows with stained glass in the upper part of the central
transomed lights. Cross-wing to right breaks forward slightly with attic window
over large 2-storey canted bay window with stained glass. Gable-ended projection
at right end has grotesque head carved in the coving of the jetty to 3-light oriel
window. Single storey parapeted extension in the right-hand angle of the
projection. On east side, this cross-wing has attic 3-light window over two 6-
light windows. Decorated rainwater head C B L in angle.
A 8 8 D.
Much of the original interior decoration and fittings are intact with Morris
details and de Morgan tiled grates. Geometrical-patterned plaster ceilings to the
principal rooms in south wing and entrance hall where most of the features are
concentrated. Principal room has bolection moulded panels of gold-embossed leather
with plasterwork frieze above. Minstrel gallery on south side with arcade of 3
semi-circular arches, richly carved and supported on turned balusters. Richly
carved chimneypiece incorporates some late C16 or early C17 panelling. Ante-room
also has decorated plasterwork ceiling and richly carved chimneypiece with
Atlantes. 2 adjacent 4-centred arched doorways with foliated spandrels with
original painted decorations give access to entrance hall which contains large
staircase with barleysugar balusters and large newel posts with acorn finials.
Dining-room has screen with central 4-centred arch supported on colonnettes.
Gabled attic rooms with round-arched doorways in the south cross-wing have barrel
ceilings supported on colonnades of turned balusters with carved heads in the
capitals. Master bedroom has carved chimneypiece. Stained glass by Selwyn Image
(c.f. Mortehoe Church q.v.). Painted mural depicting Canterbury Tales scene, now
in kitchen.

Listing NGR: SS4651444875

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26401545

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

• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)