Description

SX 76 NE BROADHEMPSTON BEASTON
1/50 Beaston, including forecourt
- containing wall and gate piers to
23.8.55 north-north-east
- II*
Small manor house circa 1740-50; built and inhabited for 250 years by the Rowe
family, who also rebuilt the nearby larger Kingston House in Staverton parish in
1744. Beaston is reputed to have been built by the younger brother. Modified
internally probably in later C18. Service wing remodelled in C19. Principal block
to right is of small ashlar blocks, slate hung to rear on first floor. Service wing
is of rubble, lower end of it is rendered. Hipped slate roof with coved cornice to
principal block. Rendered brick gable end stacks, service wing has large projecting
lateral brick stack at rear. Cottage at lower end of it has large rubble axial
stack and rendered rubble lateral stack at rear.
Interesting provincial adapation of Classical C18 country house plan; its modest
size is in contrast to its grand exterior. The 2 blocks are probably of the same
basic build although the service range to the left may be a remodelling of an
earlier house which was downgraded. The right hand one, housing the principal
accommodation, has been less altered. It is single depth with a central entrance
hall which has a staircase at the rear. The principal room is to the right. To the
left a passage runs along the front of this block leading to the service wing,
behind it is a smaller reception room, both rooms have end stacks. The service wing
projecting at right angles at left end consists of 2 rooms, the larger one probably
the original kitchen. Beyond it is what appears to be a separate cottage which
might possibly be an earlier building or alternatively have provided an annexe to
the main house. On the evidence of some of the internal fittings the principal
block was slightly remodelled in the late C18 internally. The service wing was
remodelled externally in circa mid C19.
2 storeys, principal block has attic. Imposing symmetrical 5-window front of circa
late C18 12-pane sashes in original openings with central doorway. Probably
original 8 fielded panel door with moulded wooden architrave and simple stone
pilaster at either side. Stone doorhood supported on stone brackets. Stringcourse
above ground and first floor windows. Windows have flat stone arches. Rear also
has symmetrical 5-window facade of contemporary 12-pane sashes with tall central 21-
pane stair window at first floor. Stringcourse above first floor windows. 2 C20
gabled dormer windows, replacing original ones. Service wing projects at left-hand
end from front of house. It has asymmetrical 2-window front of circa mid C19 12-and
16-pane sashes with flat stone arches above. C20 plank door to left. At the rear
of the wing is almost regular 3-window facade of similar windows, all with brick
dressings; large projecting lateral stack to right of centre with C20 porch to its
right. Beyond that is projecting slate hung wing to attached cottage. Cottage has
regular 2-window front of C19 and C20 casements; the right hand ground floor window
is early C19 sash with 2 lights each of 12 panes.
Interior of principal block preserves original room layout with some original
features and some later ones. Principal room has original moulded cornice. C19
pine chimneypiece. Late C18 raised and fielded panel shutters to rear window. The
room to the left of the hall has its original moulded cornice. Original 6-fielded
panel door. Late C18 Adam style chimneypiece with Corinthian pilasters. To either
side of fireplace is glass-fronted mahogany cabinet with Chippendale style glazing
bars, probably contemporary with chimneypiece. Contemporary raised and fielded
panel shutters as in the other principal room. Passage at the front of this room
has archway at either end with dropped keystone and flat pilaster to either side.
Good quality original open string staircase has heavy moulded handrail ramped to
newels with curtail step. Column newels and 2 turned balusters to each step with
carved brackets. Room layout on first floor identical to ground floor. Corridor at
front has one identical archway. Principal bedroom has late C18 Adam style
chimneypiece and original 3 fielded-panel door. Similar panelled surround to rear
windows as in ground floor rooms. Victorian fireplace with arched iron grate in
other principal bedroom with panelled surround to 1 window. Attic rooms also
originally had fireplaces. Cottage at end of service wing has back to back
fireplaces with plain timber lintel on one side and rough voussoir arch on the
other.
This house is an interesting and well preserved example of how a provincial gentry
family adapted the design of the Classical C18 country house to their own means and
purposes. Despite an imposing facade the principal block has a surprisingly modest
interior and rather than incorporating the service rooms into it they were housed in
a wing at one side which unbalances the symmetry of the main house. These
idiosyncracies, however, give vernacular character to a house with grander
pretensions.

Listing NGR: SX7932566254

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17536148

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

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northumberland (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cumbria: Cumberland, Westmorland and Furness (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)