Description

SP 72 NW MIDDLE CLAYDON CLAYDON PARK

4/78 Claydon House

25.9.51

GV I

Mansion. W. wing containing state rooms built late 1760s-early
1770s for Ralph, second Earl Verney. Luke Lightfoot in charge of
work until 1769, with intervention of Sir Thomas Robinson 1768-
1771. Remainder of house to rear is mid C18 remodelling of older
building with S. front altered 1860s. Classical W. wing is of
ashlar with plain sill course to ground floor, quoins and moulded
cornice with modillions. Slate roof, ashlar chimneys. Barred
sash windows in architrave surrounds. 2 storeys. W. front of 7
bays, 3 to centre slightly projecting and pedimented with shallow
recessed arch over ground floor windows. Centre of ground
floor has Serlian window with rusticated blocks over central arch
and Doric jambs. Flanking ground floor windows have pulvinated
friezes and pediments, segmental to end bays. Outer bays have
bullseye windows between storeys, those to right blind and painted.
Central first floor window has lugged architrave. Small round window
in pediment above. N. front, altered 1790s, has 5 bays with
alternating segmental and triangular pediments to ground floor
windows, those in bays 2 and 3 with double doors. S. front of 3
bays is of header bond red brick with plain parapet and stone sill
course and window architraves. Remainder of house: 3 storeys and
basement. N. and part of E. fronts are of mid C18 brick with
vitreous headers, red dressings and gauged heads to windows. Plain
parapet, brick band courses. Barred sash windows, some round headed
with intersecting glazing bars, some Serlian. C19 tower to right of
N. front, C19 S. front of red brick with stone architraves to
sash windows and 2 full-height canted bay windows with stone
mullions and transoms. Interior: older part of house has C17
fireplace in ground floor. S.E. room, early C18 bolection
panelling in entrance hall and C17 panelling with carved frieze
re-sited in second floor room. The W. wing has exceptionally fine
examples of contemporary decoration. The first floor rooms,
North Hall and Pink Parlour have extravagant Rococo decoration with
scrolls, foliage, birds and exotic motifs in carved wood by
Lightfoot, carved marble fireplaces and 6 or 8-panel mahogany doors
with mouldings. The North Hall and the Gothic and Chinese Rooms
are especially impressive; the latter with pagoda-like alcove and
doorcases. The Saloon and Library were decorated under the
direction of Sir Thomas Robinson with heavily classical wooden
doorcases, marble fireplaces and elaborate plaster ceilings in the
style of Robert Adam by Joseph Rose. Fine staircase with inlaid
treads, risers, handrail, landings and soffits, carved string, and
delicate wrought iron balustrade of scroll work with ears of wheat.
Above is a glazed oval dome with carved frieze of sea creatures.
The W. wing is the surviving part of a larger scheme, the house
formerly extending to the north with a central rotunda and matching
ballroom wing designed by Robinson and demolished 1792.
(National Trust Guide. Country Life: October 24th, 31st and
November 7th 1952. RCHM II p. 198-9. Mon.2.)

Listing NGR: SP7191725334

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Claydon House at Wikipedia
• Claydon House official website
• Wikidata Q613271

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

• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)