The Lawns

The Lawns is a country house located in Tattenhill, Derbyshire. It likely has an early 19th-century core, though this is now largely hidden by the main house, which was built around 1900 and subsequently altered. The house was commissioned for the Bass family.

The house is constructed of rendered walls, likely over brickwork, with stone dressings. It has a flat roof concealed behind a balustraded parapet, and prominent central stacks. The design is loosely Italianate, with a T-shaped plan initially presented as an 'L', later expanded to accommodate a visit from Edward VII.

The front elevation combines the north-east angles of the plan and features three storeys, with the ground floor exhibiting banding. A deep patera frieze sits beneath a dentil cornice, which precedes the parapet. Raised quoins and a pair of giant pilasters are present, one integrated into the quoins on the left and the other positioned to the left of centre. A single bay is recessed to the right, topped by a water tower. The main front has four pairs of large-pane sash windows in raised surrounds, set into the frieze; the attic windows are a further pair. First-floor windows are pedimented, one segmental to the right. A three-bay, single-storey porch dominates the ground floor, recessed to the left, with paired columns supporting a frieze and balustraded parapet. A banded wall behind the columns features round-arched windows in each bay, with a similar entrance and glazed double doors on the right. A further entrance is located under the water tower, with a lead plaque to the left indicating the date 1822, which may relate to an earlier structure. A projecting two-storey billiard wing is located to the right, featuring a three-sided bay. The rear garden front displays greater symmetry, with four bays and a central pediment bearing the date 1900.

The interior includes a wide oak staircase with heavily moulded balusters and details. The ballroom is characterized by columned flanking screens. A lift within the Edward VII wing has a decorative wrought iron cage, and a marble fireplace remains in the same wing.