Thorngrove

Country house dating from the late 18th century. It is constructed of ashlar with a slate roof concealed behind a parapet, featuring a brick ridge stack at one end of the main elevation, and additional chimneys at the rear. The three-story building has a molded cornice and a three-by-one-by-two-plus-three bay arrangement defined by three pilasters at each end and a roughly central point. The main elevation has a projecting fourth bay containing the entrance, topped with a small pediment displaying a carved floral motif. The ground floor windows are four-pane sashes, the first floor has glazing bar sashes, and the second floor features six-pane sashes. Lower floor windows have small scalloped blind boxes. A large entrance portico is supported by paired Ionic columns, with paired Ionic half-columns flanking a double doorway housing half-glazed doors. The three bays at the right-hand end have large, full-height 18-pane glazing bar sashes on the ground floor, each topped with a scalloped canopy on shaped brackets; the first floor contains glazing bar sashes. The south elevation has three bays: the left bay is bowed, while the central and right bays are canted and feature pilasters flanking their central windows. The left bay's ogee-arched central doorway, with pointed arched side lights – all containing stained glass beneath the archways – is multi-paned. A glazing bar sash is located on the first floor above the doorway. The central bay has three ground floor plain sashes with blind boxes similar to those on the right side of the main facade, accompanied by three eight-pane sashes on the first floor, also with blind boxes. The right-hand bay has a central four-pane sash on the ground floor and an eight-pane sash above; the side windows on both floors are blocked, and three eight-pane sashes are situated on the second floor. The interior drawing room at the rear south end has a large walnut chimney piece in a Greek Revival style, with a round arched grate and an octagonal mirror above, flanked by paired Corinthian columns with an entablature, and enriched with marquetry and gilding. The room’s ceiling is stuccoed and features gilded wall panels, along with an acanthus moulded cornice and moulded doorheads possessing an acanthus frieze. The ballroom to the right of the front elevation has a very fine painted and stuccoed ceiling from the early 19th century, along with cornice, doorheads, and a dado with egg and dart mouldings. The hall has Ionic columns and a square open well staircase with wrought iron balusters and a moulded handrail. Thorngrove was once the residence of Lucien Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, and later the home of explorer Sir Samuel White Baker. Roman fort ditches have been partially excavated within the grounds.