Merton Grange

House. Built in the early 18th century, with alterations and an addition made in the mid to late 19th century. The house is constructed of red brick, rendered in the 19th century, with a double-gabled plain tiled roof and a modillion eaves cornice. It has paired end stacks, rebuilt but retaining part of the swept end parapet. The original design comprised two parallel and adjoining ranges. The symmetrical west facade features a rusticated ground floor and clasping rusticated pilasters to the first floor. It has five bays with alternating triangular and segmental pediments, dating to the 19th century, supporting eight-pane hung sashes from the early 20th century. Four twelve-pane hung sashes are also from the 19th century. A flaked, pedimented Roman Doric portico of stone provides access and features a door with glazed upper panels. The rear elevation has a moulded doorcase surround and pediment, both from the 19th century, along with twelve-pane hung sashes. One first-floor window has intersecting glazing bars in the head. A mid-to-late 19th century wing extends from the north end, with rendered brick walls, rusticated ground floor, and pilastered first floor on the west side. A segmental pediment surmounts a three-light first-floor window with hung sashes; a similar ground-floor window lacks the pediment. Adjoining the house on the south is an orangery. It is timber-framed, painted, and has a barrel-vaulted roof with radial glazing bars to the ends. The side elevation has five bays divided by pilaster strips. A 19th-century brick ha-ha forms the garden boundary on the west side. Inside, an early 18th-century staircase has two flights and a landing, featuring an open string with three twisted balusters to each tread, a “toads back” hand rail, square newels, a panelled dado, and scroll cheek pieces. The hall bay is separated from the stairbay by an arch with panelled sides.