Thorngrove

SO 86 SW 2/44 29.7.59

GRIMLEY CP Thorngrove

GV II*

Country house. Late C18. Ashlar, slate roof behind parapet, brick ridge stack to end main elevation; additional chimneys to rear. Three storeys and moulded cornice, 3:1:2 + 3 bays articulated by 3 pilasters at ends and roughly central. Main elevation: fourth bay contains entrance and projects slightly and has small pediment containing a carved floral motif; 4-pane ground floor sashes, first floor glazing bar sashes, second floor 6-pane sashes; windows on lower 2 floors have small scalloped blind boxes; large entrance portico with full entablature supported on paired Ionic columns, paired Ionic half-columns flank double doorway with half-glazed doors. Three bays at right end have large, full storey height 18-pane glazing bar sashes on the ground floor, with scalloped canopies on shaped brackets; first floor glazing bar sashes. South elevation: 3 bays, left one is bowed and the central and right one are canted and have pilasters flanking their central windows. The left bay has ogee-arched central, multi-paned doorway and pointed arched multi-paned side lights, all with stained glass beneath their actual archways; on the first floor is a glazing bar sash; the central bay has 3 ground floor large plain sashes with blind boxes similar to those to the right of the main facade, and 3 first floor 8-pane sashes also with blind boxes. The right end bay had a central, ground floor 4-pane sash and an 8-pane sash above; the side windows on both floors are blocked; on the second floor are three 8-pane sashes. Interior: Drawing room to rear south end has a large walnut chimney piece, Greek Revival style, round arched grate and octagonal mirror above each flanked by paired Corinthian column with entablature and enriched with marquetry and gilding; acanthus moulded cornice, moulded doorheads with acanthus frieze, stuccoed ceiling, gilded wall panels; Ballroom to right of front elevation has very fine painted and stuccoed ceiling of early C19, cornice, doorheads and dado with egg and dart mouldings. Hall has Ionic columns and square open well staircase with wrought iron balusters and moulded handrail. Lucien Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, lived at Thorngrove for several years. It was also the home of Sir Samuel White Baker, the explorer. The ditches, belonging to a Roman fort, have been partly excavated in the grounds. (BoE).

Listing NGR: SO8221660091