Melton Lodge with detached Coach House

Melton Lodge with Detached Coach House

A substantial villa built in 1818 with a detached coach house, subsequently altered in the 1860s by GC Haddon, in the 1890s by Nevinson and Newton, in the early 20th century, and again in the 1930s.

The house and coach house are constructed of brick with stucco finish and slate roofs. The house is largely linear in plan, aligned north-south, with the entrance elevation facing west and the principal garden front facing east. The detached coach house stands to the north-west.

The stuccoed elevations are characterised by sweeping roofs and broad projecting eaves. The main west-facing entrance is contained within a porch of 1894 by Nevinson and Newton, a tripartite arrangement featuring square columns and pilasters with carved capitals and a central archway with Gibbs surround containing a wrought iron panel with gas lamp. The main timber door with glazed panels, understood to date from the 1930s, is recessed with leaded windows either side and stained glass in the return walls. The central bay is flanked by timber verandahs thought to be original, possibly truncated during the 1890s work. The upper elevations contain later 19th-century timber sash windows with broad projecting eaves supported on timber brackets above, and a timber cupola with carved brackets and pyramidal roof. A later 19th-century extension to the north contains matching sash windows and surrounds. The northern elevation is mostly plain with sash windows and doors at varying levels accessing service areas.

The south elevation features a pair of later 19th-century oriel windows to first-floor bedrooms, large original sash windows to the drawing room below, and a timber balcony with Regency-style wrought iron balustrade. Below these are three arched openings with Doric engaged columns between and Crittall doors, thought to date from the 1930s.

The east garden elevation rises the full four storeys and is dominated by a large central bow projecting from the main section. A small door gives basement-level access to the garden at the centre of the bow. At lower ground floor level, the bow contains three large six-over-nine sash windows, with a further sash window to the north and a large arched door matching those adjacent opening onto an Art Deco-style concrete balcony to the south. A timber and wrought iron balcony with decorative brackets crosses the entire elevation at ground floor level, with large sash windows opening onto it. Most upper-floor windows have external timber shutters.

The main entrance opens into a large hall with the principal stair rising to first-floor level. The stair, appearing to date from the early 20th century, features large square newel posts with turned finials, closed string with turned balusters, and a band of guilloche decoration. At the half-landing, turned posts support the landing above with fretwork bands between at ceiling level. Doors opening off the main hall have original Regency-style doorcases with reeded architraves and palmette decoration; the doors themselves are later with carved central panels. An arched opening from the hall gives access to an express lift.

The main drawing room has plaster-panelled walls and decorative plaster cornice, divided at one end by a wide arch with panelled soffit. The fireplace surround dates from the later 19th or early 20th century with carved decoration; windows retain original surrounds with timber shutters. The central bowed room, identified as the library in an 1898 inventory, has timber panelling appearing to date from the early 20th century and a lowered plain ceiling. The fireplace has a large stone surround in Arts and Crafts style with carved spandrels and floral panels above. Doors and windows retain original surrounds with Greek key decoration.

The dining room is entered from a corridor off the main hall through two entrance doors with reeded architraves and floral bosses, with a further door, now an alcove, connecting the adjacent library. It features a fireplace with early 20th-century timber panelling and decorative plaster cornice. Other ground-floor rooms in the former staff areas are largely plain. A 1930s bell board survives, and a 19th-century dog leg stair stands at the northern end.

The first floor contains bedrooms in the principal building and staff bedrooms in the later extension. Main bedrooms have panelled timber doors in original surrounds; southern rooms have oriel windows, that to the west retaining a 19th-century cast iron fire surround. Staff bedrooms also retain cast iron fire surrounds. The principal bedroom has a 1930s gas fire.

The lower ground floor has a central hall with quarry-tiled floor, accessed by a stair from the main hall with stick balusters and closed string. The central bowed room is entered through a large 19th-century panelled door with side panels and glazed fanlight, containing an early 20th-century fireplace with tiled surround. Further storage rooms to the west include a wine cellar. To the south is a large room with arched openings and Crittall doors opening onto a terrace; the adjacent garden room has Crittall doors in concrete surround and retains murals possibly dating from the 1930s. The basement level contains further storage rooms, some retaining 1930s fixtures and parquet flooring.

The coach house to the north-west of the main house retains original timber doors to its carriage openings and tiled flooring to the stables at lower level.