Meldon Park

MELDON MELDON PARK NZ 1085 20/104 Meldon Park (Formerly listed as 6.5.52 Meldon Hall) GV II* Country House, 1832 by John Dobson for Isaac Cookson, some internal alterations by Lutyens c.1930. Ashlar except for tooled and margined stone to rear of service wings; slate roofs. Rectangular main block with parallel service wings to north, truncated c.1960. Vest (entrance) front 2 storeys, 3 bays. Moulded plinth, shallow angle pilasters, 1st floor band. Central bay slightly recessed behind prostyle tetrastyle Ionic porch with two columns in antis in rear wall. 12-pane sash windows in architraves which extend down to plinth or band. Ground-floor windows have cornices on richly-carved consoles. Modillion eaves cornice and parapet with short central open balustrade to each bay. Hipped roof has 2 stepped and corniced stacks with quadruple shafts. Lower 4-bay service wing set back to left; 12 pane sashes, ground floor in architraves, stepped and corniced stacks to left end and on ridge.

South front 5 bays, the central a full-height canted bay; similar detail. East front 5 bays, the central 3 slightly recessed; end bays have tripartite sashes. Lower service wing, set back to right,and link with conservatory (q.v.).

Interior; restrained decoration with marble chimneypieces in most rooms. Imperial stair, altered by Lutyens. "The last flowering of the Georgian country house tradition .... perhaps the best example of Dobson's competence as an architect of country houses".

'Meldon Park' (M. Girouard), Country Life CXXXIX (1966) 406-9.

Listing NGR: NZ1077985459