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

• 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.

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