Description

SU 78 NE HAMBLEDEN GREENLANDS

Greenlands
(The Management College,
Henley)

6/77 II* (star)

Mansion, now college. Circa 1810, for Thomas Darby-Coventry. Extended
1853 for Edward Marjoribanks, and 1871 for W H Smith. Further
alterations to W front 1936-38 by P Geddes Hyslop. Whitewashed render,
slate roofs concealed by parapets. S front: 2 storeys, 5 bays, the 3
centre bays of 1810, the outer bays of 1853. Mid C19 modillion cornice
and balustraded parapet to all bays. Mid C19 banded quoins. Centre bay
has tripartite sash with architrave surround and cornice to first
floor, and early C19 entrance portico with 4 Ionic columns and
entablature. Capitals have festoons. Flanking bays are slightly
advanced and have bowed projections . 4-light French doors to ground
floor, tripartite sashes to first floor, all with architrave surrounds
and cornices. Outer bays have 2-storey canted bay windows with
pilasters, entablatures and 3-pane sashes. Single-storey whitewashed
brick extension to right, formerly an orangery but now a dining hall,
with late C19 2-storey service wing behind. Service wing has sash
windows with shouldered surrounds, and formerly had 3-storey tower at
angle with main block. Small tower with blind arcade of 3 Romanesque
arches and steep pyramid roof to right side of rear service blocks.
W front has 6 bays of sashes, and 2 centre bays slightly recessed with
entrance in Doric patico, probably C20. Another wing and C20
extensions set back to left.
Interior: entrance hall has distyle in antis Ionic screen of paired
columns, dentil cornice and pedimented doorcases. Early C19 open
string stair with decorative wrought-iron balusters, wreathed mahogany
handrail and panelled dado to garden hall. Rooms retain mid C19
plasterwork and C18 style fireplaces. Of particular interest, are the
early C20 Old Library designed and executed by William Morris & Co for
the Hon. W F D Smith, MP. Fitted oak panelling, shelves and glazed
cupboards with carved cornice and arcaded shelf above which a deep
plasterwork frieze to the square-coffered ceiling. Green marble
chimneypiece with bracketed oak mantle and carved lugged frame
overmantle. Fine copper Art Nouveau wall and ceiling light fittings
and bell pulls and door furniture with monograms to panelled oak
double leaf doors. The Old Library is illustrated in Hints on House
Furnishing, 1909 by W Shaw Sparrow. Also, the Garden common room
decorated with hand-painted wallpaper. Probably c1870's by Italian
craftsmen for W H Smith and rediscovered August 1991. Large panels of
fine foliate and florinate framework decoration alternate with
narrower panels having more ornate arabesque designs composed of
florinate, foliate, vases and animal designs; also ovals, originally
containing marouflaged panels of classical figures. C18 style ceiling
with evidence of hand-painting under current paint. Former bathroom
tiled to full height with fine patterned glazed tiles, depicting on
the dado fantastic fish in a 4 tile repeat pattern.

Listing NGR: SU7757085483

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Greenlands at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5604247

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

• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Nottinghamshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014