Chesters

Chesters is a country house of 1771, originally designed by John Carr for John Clayton, with major remodelling and extensions in 1891 by Norman Shaw. The house is constructed of ashlar with Lakeland slate roofs. It consists of a square 1771 block, to which five 1891 wings have been added; three of these wings are set diagonally, and two extend to the rear. The extensions are in the style of the 18th century.

The south front is divided into three parts. The central section is the original 1771 house, a three-storey, four-bay symmetrical block. A central Tuscan porch has a cornice that extends over narrow sashes on either side, topped with a pediment; the doorway now contains a nine-pane sash window. The end bays feature full-height canted bay windows with band and sill bands, and pyramidal roofs. The lower floors have twelve-pane sashes, with six-pane sashes above. A modillion eaves cornice runs along the top. The roof is hipped, with tall, corniced lateral stacks. The wings are two stories and three bays, plus a one-bay link to the centre. They have plinths, sill bands, and a moulded eaves cornice. Broad end pilasters have channeled rustication. The link bays have ground floors with rustication forming voussoirs around arched openings containing double doors and radial-glazed fanlights. Each wing has a central tripartite sash window on the ground floor, with twelve-pane sashes above, all within rusticated surrounds with keystones to the lower sashes. They have hipped roofs. The returns of the wings show groups of three similar sashes.

The west front features similar detailing in a curved facade. The central three bays are recessed behind a giant Ionic colonnade in antis, with paired sashes, and oculi are set in the attics. Scattered fenestration is present on the wings.

The rear elevation of the original 1771 block has an Ionic loggia with paired columns in antis (the central bay now glazed); a tripartite stair window is situated under a round arch above, flanked by twelve-pane and eight-pane sashes. Six-pane and four-pane sashes are found on the second floor. The wings have pedimented gables with oculi; their returns display Venetian windows in heavy rusticated surrounds.

The interior features an entrance hall with a Roman Doric screen and a Norman Shaw-style freestone fireplace. There's a large panelled library, dining room, and drawing room; all decorative features are by Shaw, in a pastiche of 18th century style, but on a larger scale. Groin-vaulted lobbies connect the principal rooms. The staircase has very slender turned balusters, a ramped moulded handrail, and carved tread ends.