Locko Park

Locko Park is a country house of complex and extended history, beginning in 1669 with the chapel, substantially developed c1725–30 in the manner attributed to Francis Smith of Warwick, further enlarged in the mid-18th century and late 18th century, with major additions in 1804, 1853–56, 1861–64 (both by Henry Stevens of Derby), and 1896. The building is constructed of ashlar and rendered brick with hipped Welsh slate roofs behind solid and balustraded parapets. Various ashlar ridge and lateral chimney stacks serve the ranges, which are arranged as four ranges around a courtyard and rise to one, two, and three storeys.

The south elevation presents a three-storey main block of c1725–30, divided into 2–5–2 bays by giant rusticated pilasters. A moulded plinth, moulded eaves cornice, and balustraded parapets with urns articulate the composition. A central Tuscan Doric porch frames a doorway with moulded surround and 19th-century half-glazed doors, flanked on each side by four glazing bar sashes in moulded, keyed architraves. Nine similar windows occupy the storeys above. The chapel of 1669 projects to the left, featuring two keyed round-arched windows to the south and one to the east, with horizontal hoodmoulds linked to the keystones. The solid parapet bears a Latin inscription in bold lettering: 'My house shall be called the house of prayer'. A matching projecting wing to the right of the main block, probably mid-18th century in date, has a similar round-arched window to the west; the south side displays two glazing bar sashes in keyed moulded architraves, and the parapet carries a Latin inscription.

The irregular west elevation includes a shallow gabled end elevation of the chapel to the right, with a tall ashlar doorcase topped by a segmental pediment similar to that of County Hall, Derby of c1660, suggesting possible authorship by the surveyor George Eaton. The parapet features a gothic arch at its centre forming a bell-cote. Three bays to the left contain early 19th-century sashes, a doorway, and two large tripartite sashes. A projecting wing to the left of the elevation, measuring 2–6–2 bays and two storeys, is articulated with glazing bar sashes and parapets bearing inscriptions and dates of 1804 and 1896. Rising from the centre of the west elevation is a tall Italianate tower of 1853, distinguished by various stringcourses and tripartite groups of round-arched windows to each face of the top stage, balustraded parapet, and angle piers.

The irregular east elevation comprises a large Italianate porch of 1861–64 with sculptured birds with outstretched wings at the corners, followed to the right by three bays with single-bar sashes set in large segmental pedimented architraves and balustraded parapet. Three further bays to the right display mullioned windows. A taller four-bay wing of 1896 follows, featuring segment-headed windows to the ground floor and flat-arched windows above. The courtyard elevations are constructed of stone and red brick, predominantly with mullioned windows to the ground floor and 19th-century sashes above.

The interior contains an entrance hall with a painted ceiling by the brothers Andreotti of Florence. A top-lit picture gallery is fitted with dado, dentil cornice, and painted ceiling by A Romoli. The drawing room features a rich late 19th-century chimneypiece, gilded cornice, and trompe l'oeil painted ceiling by A Romoli, together with doorcases bearing fluted surrounds. The dining room has a coved and carved ceiling and cornice painted by Romoli and a 18th-century chimneypiece. A cantilevered open string staircase of c1725, probably altered in the 19th century, displays carved tread ends and three balusters per tread (two turned and one twisted). The old hall contains a monumental chimneypiece with a Gibbs-type surround of alternating projecting blocks, panelled dado, and doorcase with carved friezes. The boudoir is appointed with early 19th-century panelling painted in the early 20th century by Cavalieri G Bacci Velliti and P F Santini, and a painted ceiling. The library has a segmental arch and bookcases with fluted friezes.

The chapel retains its 17th-century coffered wooden ceiling, a pulpit of 1669, and a 17th-century wooden baluster font. A Schnetzler chamber organ of 1779 occupies the space. The chapel was refurbished in 1882 by F J Robinson and again in 1899, with remaining fittings dating to the 19th century. Three stained glass windows of 1900 by Powells light the interior. The billiards room contains a large marble chimneypiece and a ceiling painted by G Bacci Velliti and P F Santini. The first-floor landing and several bedrooms are finished with 18th-century raised and fielded panelling and bolection-moulded chimneypieces.