Queensberry House and attached conservatory

Queensberry House and attached conservatory

Country house, formerly a hunting lodge, built in the early 19th century. The building is constructed of stuccoed red brick with a plain-tile roof and brick ridge stacks featuring triple and quadruple linked flues. It exemplifies the elaborate cottage orné style, comprising two ranges with the larger range set a storey higher, each having large gables that descend to first-floor level.

The main block rises to two storeys with single-storey wings, attic and basement accommodation. A flight of steps rises to a gabled verandah situated in the re-entrant angle of the lower range. The entrance features an ornate Gothic part-glazed door with leaded lights.

Projecting gables positioned at 90° to left and right incorporate canted bay windows with leaded lights; the left-hand bay window displays Gothic tracery. Further to the right, irregular fenestration includes a canted four-light sashed bay window with arched lights and plain-tile roof, followed by further two- and three-light windows. The windows to the lower floors are embellished with hood moulds.

The garden front to the right of the main range features a large lean-to conservatory spanning the full width. This structure is canted forward with small square sections at either end. It has small glazed lights with Gothic heads to the eaves. A pentagonal glazed roof rises to an elaborate finial positioned half in front of the central first-floor window, which is formed of three diamond-latticed lights with Gothic tracery and hood mould. Similar single-light windows flank this, with a narrow blind window above. The conservatory contains glazed doors and windows and has stone-flagged floors. The rear elevation shows irregular fenestration including two oriel windows with plain-tile roofs.

A notable architectural feature is the series of elaborately carved and pierced barge boards with moulded pendants and carved and pierced eaves brackets.

Interior

The Reception Hall is distinguished by a Gothic vaulted ceiling. The Dining Room features a Gothic vaulted ceiling with elaborate foliage corbels, a Gothic doorcase, marble fireplace and dado panelling. The Staircase Hall contains an oak staircase with turned balusters and late 19th-century oak panelling, with a Gothic vaulted ceiling to the landing. The Drawing Room displays Gothic doorcases and details with a marble fireplace. The Ante-room has an iron ornamental fireplace positioned in a window reveal and a concealed mirrored sliding window shutter. Bedrooms are fitted with marble, wood or iron fireplaces and cast-iron grates. The Old Kitchen retains its original fireplace with stone surround. The Game Larder has slate slabs, a flagged stone floor and meat hooks. The Estate Office is notable for its Gothic fireplace with ornate cast-iron surround and leaded-light windows incorporating stained-glass etching depicting views of the house. These etchings reveal that the house was originally thatched.

Historical context

The house was a residence of the Marquess of Queensberry in the 19th century and was the birthplace of Lord Alfred Douglas. Lord Alfred, also known as Bosie, was the long-term lover of Oscar Wilde. His father, the Marquess of Queensberry, played a pivotal role in the arrest and trials of Oscar Wilde in 1895. The phrase "the love that dare not speak its name" is a line from Lord Alfred's poem "Two Loves" and became famous when quoted during Oscar Wilde's trial for gross indecency in 1895.

The property was formerly listed as Ham Hill House and attached conservatory.