Ravensknowle Hall

WAKEFIELD ROAD 1. 5113 (South Side) Ravensknowle Hall SE 1616 35/1331 II 2. 1859-62. Architect Richard Tress of London. Ashlar. Hipped slate roof. 2 storeys and attics. Deeply projecting cornice on double scrolled consoles, attic windows fitting between the consoles. String below consoles. Moulded cornice at 1st floor sill level, sills projecting on tapering brackets. String below brackets. Ground floor horizontally rusticated. Corners project slightly. 1st floor windows are round-arched, have plain raised frames and foliage capitals at impost level, with ornament at apexes; one to right is tripartite, one to left single. Ground floor windows have moulded embrasures, the 3 to right are oblong, the one to left is Venetian. Central 2-storey loggia: ground floor has Doric colonnade, with round-arched doorway (doors with moulded panels and fanlight) and 2 round-arched windows behind: 1st floor has arcade with foliate capitals and with oculi and foliage ornament above, 3 round-arched windows behind. Other elevations have similar detailing. East side has 4 windows on 1st floor. Ground floor has one Venetian window and semi-circular bay with arched French windows, foliage carved in spandrels, on capitals and in panels at bases of columns. Rear has recessed centre with one enormous round-arched staircase window with turned mullions. This one leads into an enormous conservatory, which has since been replaced by a one storey modern extension. Side bays have one window range each ground floor window is round-arched and has projecting moulded frame on elaborately carved corbels. West side has 2-storey extension with simpler detailing: windows to front have simpler concave moulding, round-arched on 1st floor, and segment-headed with keystones on ground floor; at back 1st floor windows are unmoulded, ground floor ones have moulded frames with cornices. Distinctive chimneys: 2 in main block have 2 arches with foliage band at impost level and cornicing at top. One in extension has foliage band at cornice level. Steps to front door flanked by dwarf walls with elaborate cast iron torcheres. Cast iron railings to ground floor loggia. Very impressive interiors with fine foliage moulding in stucco throughout. Circular vaulted porch. Galleried hall: staircase rising behind triple arcade: good cast iron balustrades to staircase and gallery: coved ceiling, top-lit good marble chimneypiece.

Listing NGR: SE1625416512