Harston House And Part Of Garden Wall

TL 4250 HARSTON CHURCH STREET (North Side) 17/124 31.8.62 No 38 (Harston House) and part of garden wall GV II*

House, c.1710 with c.1912 alterations and additions by T.D. Atkinson, F.R.I.B.A. of Cambridge. Red brick with clunch dressings and steeply pitched plain tiled roof. Fine moulded eaves cornice of clunch returned to the side walls, and end parapets on kneelers. End stacks with recessed panels to each side. Original plan of main range with rear service wing. Two storeys and attic. Three hipped formers. Facade flanked by clasping pilasters in two stages with a moulded band between the storeys. Range of seven flush frame hung sashes in open boxing with later hung sashes of twelve panes each. Each of the window arches has a raised keyblock, also of clunch, gauged brick arches and rusticated surround, but the centre window over the doorway has a pulvinated frieze. The doorway and one window at ground floor have similar gauged brick arches and clunch keyblock but the soffit of the arches has fine cut brick work. The rear wing, parallel to the front range either incorporates part of the c.1710 rear wing or was completely rebuilt c.1912. Rendered wall on c.1912 brick plinth with low pitch, hipped roof of slate with wood modillion eaves cornice. There is a large red brick stack with c.1710 brick work. Two storeys with two storey canted bay to one end and two cross fame casements, possibly reset. The rest of the fenestration in this part of the house is c.1912 hung sashes with narrow glazing bars, except for two hung sashes in a rear wall which have thicker, ovolo moulded glazing bars of the early C18. Adjoining at the rear is a c.1710 service wing of mainly red brick with tiled roof. One storey. Another, c.1912 extension also by Atkinson is at the left hand. Red brick with hipped, tiled roof. Two storeys. Flush frame hung sashes in segment arches with open boxing, painted white. Adjoining the front of the house is a short length of garden wall c.1710 and of red brick. It includes two piers to a garden gateway, also c.1710 with stepped brick finials. Interior: Plan of two rooms flanking narrower stair and entry bay. Good, original closed string staircase with turned balusters and square newels. One room is lined with panelling in two heights. A former service corridor between the front range and rear wing has been incorporated in this room and the panelling has been reset. The single storey rear wing has a staggered, butt purlin roof. The house belonged to Sir Graham Greene, uncle of the author, Graham Greene who as a child used to spend his holidays here. R.C.H.M: Record card

Listing NGR: TL4224650831