Woodside

Woodside is a villa, dating from approximately 1819-24, with later additions and alterations, originally built as a residence and now used as offices. The exterior is rendered in stucco over brick, with a hipped slate roof. There are three stuccoed chimney stacks, one central and two to the sides, and a painted ashlar porch. The property is two storeys high with an additional basement level and attic space, with three windows on the first floor. Stucco detailing includes a plinth, plain pilasters to the centre and sides, a plain frieze, and a dentil cornice. The central first-floor window is recessed. The first floor has 8/8 sash windows, while the ground floor has taller 2/4 sashes, all set in plain reveals with sills. The basement has replacement casement windows. A flight of five renewed steps leads to a distyle Doric porch, featuring pilaster responds, an entablature, and bulbous balusters to the upper step. Concealed attics are present. The garden facade has four first-floor windows, with 8/8 sash windows on the first floor and 2/2 sashes on the ground floor. The rear elevation features three first-floor windows, first-floor 8/8 sashes, and ground-floor tripartite windows consisting of 8/8 sashes between two smaller sashes, and a 2/4 sash. A flight of steps leads to a central entrance in a canted, solid porch with a two-panel door and a cambered overlight with decorative glazing bars. A staircase window, with a 6/9 sash window and radial glazing to the head, is located on the right return. The interior retains original features, including plasterwork and joinery. A dogleg staircase is present with stick balusters and a wreathed handrail, and carved tread ends. An archway to the hall is supported by acanthus corbels, and the rear hall incorporates a Coalbrookdale tile floor. The main reception room on the ground floor has embellished cornices with Neo-Classical details, including a modillion cornice to the room at the rear. Ground floor rooms have window shutters. An egg-and-dart frieze is found on the first-floor landing and in some rooms, and four- and six-panel doors are set in fluted surrounds. A lightwell serves the landing. A marble Regency fireplace is located on the first floor, alongside a later fireplace dating from approximately 1900. The cellar has a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The property was once the home of Francis Barnitt (d.1911), a benefactor of St Martin's Church. The surrounding suburbs developed from approximately 1785, advertised as featuring ornamental and stucco walls with views over the River Severn towards the Malvern Hills. The Lark Hill development, specifically 1819-24, was originally intended to be larger, incorporating terraces and a crescent. Woodside, along with numbers 38-50 (even) Lark Hill, forms a notable group of villas.