Description

KENTISBURY
SS 64 SW
5/87 Kentisbury Grange
-
- II
House. 1894 (datestone). Unrendered dressed slate stone rubble with ashlar
dressings. Hipped slate roof with crested ridge tiles and hip finials. Moulded
ashlar cornice. Stone rubble stacks at each end and axial stack, all lowered
slightly in C20. Corbelled first floor lateral stacks to outer face of rear right-
hand wing.
Plan: off-centre entrance hall with stairhall to rear, principal room to left, 1 1/2
rooms deep, and two principal rooms to right now thrown into one. Service wing
projects at right angles from rear right-hand side forming L-shaped plan; with small
single storey service range and stone rubble wall to rear of main range forming
small rear courtyard.
2 storeys. 4 window range of 2 pairs of 3- and 2- light mullions with 2-paned
sashes. Ground floor windows are transomed with leaded glazing pattern to the upper
parts of the lights and stone relieving arches over. The mullions are ovolo-moulded
with large bar-stops to the base of the jambs. 6 patterned tiles below the cornice
band flank the upper storey windows. Four-centred arched stone doorway with heavily
moulded surround terminating in large bar stops; labelled hoodmould with central
grotesque head keystone above the stepped overlight; heavy plank door with cover
strips and wrought iron strap hinges, in ovolo-moulded timber surround. Slate
sundial above doorway bearing 1894 date in carved ashlar pedimented surround with
moulded entablature and wings. 2 small blind ovals with keystones at right end of
main range flanking projecting stack which has set-offs.
Interior: apart from the removal of the partition wall between the 2 right-hand
rooms, the interior is unaltered and the quality of the fittings including 6
panelled doors, ½-glazed inner hall doorways with stained glass to the overlight,
marble chimney-pieces, window shutters, principal dog-leg staircase with heavy
square section newels surmounted by acorn finials, tapered fluted balusters with
open fretwork between, moulded string and handrail and secondary servants stair in
rear wing with turned balusters, is particularly high. The principal staircase has
a covered panelled plasterwork ceiling above the 4 light window incorporating
decorative stained glass by Born of Birmingham, the coving running into a decorative
geometrical plasterwork ceiling over the stair landing.
Kentisbury Grange is a fine late Victorian house of a standard rarely found in North
Devon. Its odd combination of Tudor and classical details in an almost symmetrical
exterior is interesting. It was built by a Mr. Openshaw, a Manchester cotton
merchant and a relation of the rector of Kentisbury who founded the north aisle in
Kentisbury Church (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SS6290942778

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26462331

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)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects by Harwood, Richard (2012) Paperback
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)