Description

SJ 61NE
23/521

PRESTON-ON-THE-WEALD MOORS
Preston Hospital including screen and gates in front

04.01.52

GV

I
Built in circa 1725, a very fine example of Georgian almshouses. Founded in 1716 by the will of Lady Catherine Herbert, daughter of the first Earl of Bradford and widow of the last Lord Herbert of Chirbury, her brother Lord Torrington, in 1719 contributing £1,000 for the erection of the large dining hall.

Red brick with stone dressings, tiled hipped roof and parapet. Two storeys. Centre five bays with projecting twelve bay flanking wing with nine bay rusticated elliptical arcades. Sash windows with glazing bars in moulded stone architraves. The north west wing is older and contains rooms for almswomen. The opposite north east wing slightly later where children were taught domestic service. The central connecting range contains the hall and is 2:3:2 bays, the centre three bays has giant pilasters and heavy Doric entablature with balustrade, two large arched windows in Gibbs surrounds and impressive central doorway with round-arched Gibbs surround and pediment.

Over the centre a Victorian stone clock tower. Flanking right and left of wings are later quadrant wings. Across the front of the quadrangle fine C18 ornate wrought-iron gates and screen with overthrow with masques and unicorn, flanked by cast-iron railings. In 1731 an order for railings was placed with the Coalbrookdale Company. A short avenue of trees in front of gates to a pair of small gate lodges q.v.

INTERIOR: hall has contemporary panelling, two fireplaces with arched niches over, and portraits of the founders.

Listing NGR: SJ6790015326

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527904

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)