Description

SX 68 NE CHAGFORD

3/24 Ford Park including terrace
- along front

- II

Artists house. Late C19, designed by Robert Stark as his own residence. Mostly
roughcast but some exposed granite rubble with rusticated granite quoins; granite
rubble stacks topped with cream-coloured machine brick chimney shafts; slate roof.
Plan. The house stands on a terrace cut into a steep slope. The plan is basically
L-shaped but its layout is singular. The main room (drawing room or principal
parlour) is in the angle of the wings. It projects forwards (eastwards) a short
distance and it has a bay window projecting diagonally from the south-east corner.
To right (north) of this is the east-facing main front overlooking the valley and
contains from left to right first the main stair behind a lobby called the dining
room, than a small study in front of the entrance lobby and, at the end, a large
north-facing studio. Behind (west) of the main room there is a parlour and the
service rooms which return northwards a short distance at the back. Most of the
rooms are heated by axial stacks. 2 storeys with an attic room over the studio.
The exterior is dominated by the 2-storey bay across the south-eastern corner. On
the ground floor is a large 4-light granite window with chamfered mullions and side
lights, and a matching timber casement on the first floor. First floor timber
balcony supported on granite corbels. It has exposed joists and has a spat baluster
balustrade. Plain corner posts rise to carry the sprocketted eaves of the hipped
roof which are carried out over the balcony. The ridges finish at the eaves with
wrought iron coiled finials. The east block has a 2-window front of casements with
a third to the studio to right. Those on the first floor have gables over. 4-bay
verandah across the front is carried on granite posts. The south front also contains
casements with rusticated granite architraves and the parlour here has a 4-light
window with chamfered mullions and plain hoodmould. The north end of the studio has
an enormous full height 6-light window with slender timber mullions and transoms.
The gable above is weather boarded and contains a canted bay window. A shelter to
rear of the studio and main door was open and carried on a series of granite posts
but the sides have since been filled. All the windows are plate glass and it is not
known how they were glazed originally.
Unaltered interior. It is deliberately plain and where there is detail it is Tudor
in style. The staircase, for instance, has an open well, newel posts with moulded
caps and spat balusters. The reception room is the best in the house. The joists
are exposed but there is a coved cornice and it includes arch-headed niches across
each corner. The walls have plain wainscotting and the north wall has the pilasters
flanking replacement book shelves. The Tudor style fireplace of reconstituted stone
is secondary. Parquet floor. The spacious, light and full height studio is most
impressive.
Across the front of the house is a terrace made from blocks of granite including
steps down to the lawn below.
This is an important house; a rare example of a purpose-built artists house built in
a individual style. it should be kept as such. Robert Stark was an artist and
sculptor working at the turn of the century. He built the house for himself and laid
out the fine landscaped grounds which are almost Alpine in terms of the site having
herbaceous planting and overlooking a small lake with woodland around. Although
Robert Stark is little known today his daughter Freya is the famous travel writer.
She spent her early years here and remembers the place with affection in her
autobiography. She now lives in Italy with some of the furniture built for Ford
Park.

Listing NGR: SX6749986238

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26459469

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

• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)