Harston House And Part Of Garden Wall

Harston House is a substantial house dating from approximately 1710, with alterations and additions made around 1912 by T.D. Atkinson, FRIBA, of Cambridge. It is constructed primarily of red brick with clunch dressings, and features a steeply pitched plain tiled roof. A notable feature is the fine moulded eaves cornice of clunch, which is returned to the side walls and visible in the end parapets, set upon kneelers. Brick stacks with recessed panels flank the ends of the building.

The original design consisted of a main range with a rear service wing. The facade is of two storeys and an attic, with three hipped gables. The front is flanked by clasping pilasters in two stages, separated by a moulded band. Seven flush frame hung sashes are set within open boxing, with later replacements incorporating twelve panes. The arches above the windows are highlighted with raised clunch keyblocks, and gauged brick arches with rusticated surrounds; the central window over the doorway has a pulvinated frieze. Similar detailing is found above the ground-floor doorway and one window.

The rear wing, parallel to the main range, either incorporates elements of the original 1710 design or was completely rebuilt in 1912. This wing is rendered on a brick plinth and has a low-pitched, hipped slate roof with a wood modillion eaves cornice, and a substantial brick stack incorporating older brickwork. It features a two-storey canted bay and two cross-frame casements, possibly reused from elsewhere. The remaining windows are 1912 hung sashes, except for two, in a rear wall, which display thicker, ovolo moulded glazing bars characteristic of the early 18th century.

A circa 1710 service wing, largely of red brick and with a tiled roof, adjoins the rear of the main house. A further extension, also by Atkinson and dating to 1912, is located to the left. This extension is of red brick with a hipped, tiled roof and features flush frame hung sashes in segment arches with white painted open boxing.

A short length of red brick garden wall, also dating to approximately 1710, runs alongside the front of the house. It includes two brick piers supporting a garden gateway with stepped brick finials.

The interior retains a two-room plan, flanking a narrower stair and entry bay. An original closed string staircase features turned balusters and square newels. One of the rooms is lined with panelling of two heights; a former service corridor, between the front and rear wings, has been incorporated into this room, and the panelling has been reset. The single-storey rear wing has a staggered butt purlin roof. The house formerly belonged to Sir Graham Greene, uncle of the author Graham Greene, who spent childhood holidays there.