Description

SHORWELL

SZ48SE MAIN ROAD
1354-0/9/320 (West side)
21/07/51 North Court, North Court House and
Little North Court
(Formerly Listed as:
NORTH COURT)

II

Large house, at time of survey divided into 3 units. Begun by
Sir John Leigh in 1615 and completed in 1629 by his son
Barnaby Leigh. Exterior alterations were carried out and the
interior was reconstructed in the early C18 by Sir John
Leigh's grandson Barnabas Evelyn Leigh. The north west wing
was added in 1905 by Edwin Lutyens for General and Mrs R W
Disney Leigh. The original part is an L-shaped 3 storey
building of coursed Isle of Wight stone rubble with ashlar
dressings and slate roof with brick chimneystack. The
principal or east front has 8 windows, mainly casements with
stone mullioned and transoms. Stringcourse between 1st and 2nd
floors ramped up to form dripstones. North and projects with a
gable over surmounted by tall finials at apex and angles. The
remainder of this front has 3 gables, each with similar
finials at apexes and bases. Central porch, approached up 5
steps having shaped gable with finials over containing a
cartouche with the arms of Sir John Leigh and the date 1615
but with early C18 moulded architraves with keystone. One each
side of the porch in a 2 storey bay of 2 tiers of 5 lights,
each top bearing 4 finials. The south front has 2 windows, one
of which is a 2 tier 5 light Victorian bay. The north or
entrance front was originally of 5 bays but a 6th bay was
added in 1905 by Sir Edwin Lutyens in matching style to
include a Billiard Room. 3 gables with stone finials.
Stringcourses above ground floor and 1st floor. Original part
has 1 stone mullioned window to attic but the other windows
are C20 cross casements in C18 stone architraves with
keystones. Shaped projecting stone porch with finials and
shield and date 1637 actually added in early C18. North
western bay has mullioned window on 2nd floor and 3 tier 5
light window to billiard room. 2 C18 lead rain water heads and
pipes to this elevation. Attached to north west is Little
North Court which appears to be a former late C17 or early C18
brewhouse and bake-house altered c.1905 and bears the initials
of May Charlotte Julia Leith. 2 to 3 storeys stone rubble.
Slate roof with clustered brick chimneystacks. Left side gable
with elaborate stone finials at apex and sides. 1:3:2
mullioned windows with hood moulding. Doorcase to left under
relieving arch. Stone doorcase under relieving arch with
dripmould and side light. Modern plank door. Entrance hall to
North Court was refurnished in the early C18 and has a
modillion eaves cornice. 6 panelled doors, 2 round-headed
arches with keystone and impost blocks and 5 round-headed
recesses. Fragments of Flemish C16 glass in windows. Early C18
well staircase with scrolled tread ends and 3 balusters to
each tread consisting of 1 plain, 1 twisted and 1 fluted
baluster. Fluted column newel post and elaborate scrolled
knop. The stairwell is lit by a Venetian window similar to
Gatcombe House and Wolverton Manor. The Dining Room has an
early C19 marble fireplace with engaged Tuscan columns and
iron firegrate. Drawing Room has early C18 cornice and
ovolo-moulded door surrounds. Library has wooden overmantel
from Music Room with painted Benet coat of arms, end
pilasters, 1 male and one female term in centre and 2
round-headed arches. The cornice has 2 fabulous beasts and a
male and female mask. The house remained with the Leigh family
until the 1790s when it was bought by Richard Briel an eminent
art collector and friend of Horace Walpole, descended to the
Benetts and then to General Sir James Willoughby Gordon who
had been Quarter-master General to the Duke of Wellington in
the Peninsular War of 1812. His grand-daughter Mary Gordon
(later Mrs Diney Leigh) was a cousin of the poet Algernon
Swinburne. He wrote much of his epic poem "Atalanta in
Corydon" in the libray at North Court.
(V.C.H.: 278; C W R Winter: The Manor Houses of the Isle of
Wight: 111 - 117).

Listing NGR: SZ4568683211

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26514710

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

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Buildings of England)