Description

STEEPLE ASHTON HIGH STREET
ST 9056
(west side)
13/251 Ashton House (formerly listed
with No 34)
11.9.68
GV II*

House with cottage attached to left. Hall house of c1400 with C16
alterations and additions, refronted 1724 by Stileman family,
extended and restored 1924 by Sir Harold Brakspear for Mr. Harding
Tyler. Limestone ashlar front to timber-framed ranges, double-
roman tiled roof with stone stacks with moulded cappings. Three-
bay open hall with solar wing to south, C16 front range, 1920s long
rear service wing and north extension. Two-storey, 5-window.
Central 6-panelled door in moulded architrave with scrolled
pediment on consoles, acanthus-leaf ball finial, two cross windows
either side, chamfered quoins, lintel string course. First floor
has five 12-pane sashes with panelled aprons, moulded stone cornice
to high parapet with blind windows and panels, lead rainwater goods
dated 1724 with initials CS (Christian Stileman). 1924 single-
storey 2-bay service extension in similar style attached to right,
lead rainwater heads dated 1924/AMHT. Right return has 2-light
mullioned casements to first floor. Rear of main range has square-
panelled timber-framing, 3-light cyma-mullioned casement, oriel
hall window and planked door to right, 3-light wood mullioned
casement to first. Long 1924 wing attached to right is rubble
stone with stone slate roof, planked doors left and right,
mullioned casements and bull's eyes to ground and first floors,
central cylindrical projecting stair turret with conical roof,
south side of wing has 3-bay loggia at west end, similar windows.
Interior: Three-bay open hall with C16 stone stack inserted in
north bay; fireplace with Tudor-arched surround, cornice and
herringbone brick back, fine arch-braced collar truss roof with
moulded soffits, 2 tiers of curved windbracing and restored carved
and brattished wall plate. Solar on south side originally 4 bays,
east bay partly truncated by 1724 front, arch-braced collar truss
roof with moulded soffits, two tiers of windbracing to chamfered
purlins, truss in west end altered to a tie-beam truss in C20, C16
timber-framed partition and inserted fireplace. Entrance hall
added to east side of hall in early C16; heavily-moulded cross
beamed ceiling, exposed joists, moulded stone fireplace with
depressed arch and cornice, C16 framed newel stairs with turned
balusters, closed string and square newels. First floor chamber
with similar moulded cross beams, depresssed arched stone
fireplace, traces of wall painting above planked door leading to
C16 gallery inserted along east side of hall. C16 cottage attached
to left of front; rendered timber-framing, double roman tiled roof
with grouped brick stack to right. Two-storey, 1-window; C19
panelled door to right, 16-pane sash to left and 3-light leaded
casement to first floor. Rear has outshut with hipped dormer.
Interior of cottage has winding stair beside stack.
(Country Life, October 30, 1942; Wiltshire Buildings Record,
Devizes)

Listing NGR: ST9064656887

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17544075

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)
• 
  The Victorian House Manual (2nd Edition): How They Were Built, Improvements & Refurbishment, Solutions to All Common Defects - Includes Relevant ... ... Properties (Haynes Manual) (Haynes Manuals)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)