Description

TL 1442 SOUTHILL SOUTHILL PARK

13/225 Southill Park House
16.1.52

GV I

Country house. C17 origins, altered earlier C18 (probably by Isaac Ware) for
the Byng family, by the addition of wings and pavilions to W and E. Purchased
1795 by Samuel Whitbread I, brewery founder and MP for Bedfordshire.
Extensively remodelled 1795-1800 for Samuel Whitbread II by Henry Holland.
Holland reworked the central block and the outer pavilions, and rebuilt the
linking wings. Walls refaced in Portland and Totternhoe stone. Slate roofs.
Central block is of 3 storeys and attics with slightly projecting pedimented
bay both to N and S. This block is linked to 2 2-storeyed pedimented
pavilions to W and E by ranges of one storey and attics. A basement runs the
whole length of the building and is lit from the N. N entrance front: rather
plain. The ground floor of the central block and both floors of the side
pavilions are rusticated, the rest is in smooth ashlar. 3:4:1:3:1:4:3 window
facade, all the original sashes replaced by plate glass casements. The only
front entrance is an inconspicuous door in the W bay of the central block. To
the centre of the middle bay is a single storey canted bay window. A porte-
cochere was added late C19 at the W end, which became the main entrance. A
balustrade on the edge of the basement well shields the basement from view.
To the E a low 2-storeyed service wing adjoins, of white brick with slate
roof. This II window range has a Venetian window at each end, and sash windows
with glazing bars in between. S garden front: same arrangement of
rustication. Fenestration arranged 3:3:1:3:1:3:3, again mostly with later
casements, but retaining some original sashes with glazing bars to the ground
floor of the main block and link wings. Portico to central bay of main block,
loggie to link wings, all with paired lonic columns and surmounted by
balustrades. To E end is later C19 orangery, of red brick, with stone
pilasters separating the 6 tall mullion and transom windows. Hipped glass
roof. Eaves cornice surmounted by stone urns. Interior: retains most of
Holland's original decoration. Hall has some plaster relief sopraportes by
George Garrard, whilst the drawing room and boudoir ones are paintings by
Sawrey Gilpin. The painted boudoir ceiling and some other panels are by A L
Delabriére.

(C Hussey, "Southill Park", Country Life, 12th July 1930, PP 42-48; 19th July
1930, pp.80-86; 26th July 1930, pp.108-114. C Hussey (ed.), Southill, A
Regency House, London, 1951. D. Stroud, Henry Holland, His Life and
Architecture, London, 1966.)

Listing NGR: TL1433342066

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Southill Park at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q17528328

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

• 
  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  For the Record
• 
  [(Shropshire)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1958)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)