The Clock House

SJ 84 SW KEELE C.P. KEELE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

6/35 The Clock House

GV II

Former stable block and coach house, now part of university music department (west half) and Vice-Chancellor's residence (east half). C.1830, with later additions and alterations. By Edward Blore for Ralph Sneyd. Red brick with blue bricks set in diaper patterns, rock-faced sandstone plinth and quoins with ashlar to gates and dressings throughout; plain tiled roofs with coped verges on stone kneelers, tall brick lateral and ridge stacks. 4 equal ranges around a central paved courtyard with gates on the north and south; mixed Tudor and early Renaissance style. One storey to north and south (plus attic to south) and 2 storeys to east and west (formerly the coachman's and head gardener's accommodation respectively). South side: entrance front. 6 bays internally; shaped gabled eaves dormers and wide round-arched doorways (now bricked up) with raised keystones and double doors, 3 to each side of central carriageway. Externally the fenestration has been altered, the 3 tall rectangular slits to the left of the entrance are blocked and 2 mid-C20 casements inserted above; to the right of the entrance, 2 flat-roofed eaves dormers and a French window beneath (all mid-C20). Original fenestration, however, survives to the shaped gables at each end: 2 cross windows to ground floor with 2-light mullion window above, all with dripstones, oculi to top. The entrance is the dominant feature; a wide round-headed arch under flat head with panelled spandrels, flanked by polygonal corner turrets; above is a clock house with armorial shields beneath the eaves of a stone pyramidal roof capped by an octagonal round-arched bell turret (bell now missing), with stone cupola; clock in ornamental stone surround (north side). Other sides plainer; much altered fenestration, again originally mullioned and transomed windows, a few of which retain their C19 glazing; the north side has a central entrance, similar to that on south, but with scrolled cresting to centre and spur stones to outer arch. The prominent early C20 and mid-C20 additions to the east and west are not included. An avenue of trees leads from the south entrance to Lymes Lodge (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SJ8181244720