Braxted Park House

Braxted Park House is a house with a 17th-century origin, extensively reconstructed between 1752 and 1759 to designs by Robert Taylor, with further enlargements circa 1804-06 by John Johnson. Later 18th-century work was undertaken by local artisans, including James Brown and Matthew Hall. The brick house is built of red brick with a stone parapet coping, a cornice, and a central band. It has grey slate roofs, hipped over the forward wings, and seven red brick chimney stacks are visible from the front. The house is two storeys and attics, with a 2:9:2 window range of octagonal paned vertically sliding sash windows. Matching window ranges are found to the inner wing returns, with some blocked windows and alcoves. The central double doors consist of five panels, surrounded by a flat-roofed stucco façade with pilasters, capitals, bases, metopes, and triglyphs to the frieze, and a moulded cornice. A flat-roofed extension with matching windows extends from the rear right.

The interior features fine detail, including an arcaded main hall and a sweeping staircase with wreathed balusters and curved iron balustrade rails. Moulded door and window surrounds are present, along with reveal shutters to windows, some six-panel and some octagonal panel doors, and friezes to some doors. Notable rooms include a fine saloon and master bedroom, along with some panelling, good fireplaces in both Jacobean and Adam styles, and a 20th-century library with curved panelling, hidden doors, and a gun case.

The house is situated within a 500-acre park, including a 15-acre lake crossed by a bridge, an ice house, and a summerhouse. The park is entirely enclosed by a red brick wall. Several ancillary structures are present, including six lodge cottages and various garden features. Braxted Park House was historically owned by the Darcy family in the 17th century and by the Du Cane family from circa 1751 until 1919. About 1950, during restoration for the Plessey Company, an Adam style ceiling was installed in the Saloon, and a copy ceiling from Shardeloes, Buckinghamshire, was inserted in the main bedroom.