The Clock House

SP 9211 11/91

TRING MANSION DRIVE (West side) The Clock House, Tring Park

(formerly listed as stables to the Mansion, Tring Park)

21.9.51

GV II* Stable block, now school dormitory. '1709' on rainwaterheads, for William Gore, possibly by Gibbs. Plum brick with red brick dressings to openings, red rubbed arches, stone cornices and urns. Steep roofs now slated.

A large two storey block facing east with taller projecting centre surmounted by clock and four stone urns. Arcaded octagonal Doric cupola now missing. A striking Baroque design. Simple five windows long wings with terminal pilaster, tall round headed windows, slightly recessed box sashes with small panes and radial pattern in head, six-panel door in lower part of middle window, smaller square-headed windows to first floor with small panes and moulded sills, and moulded stone cornice surmounted by brick parapet which appear to be additions. Wide projecting centre has square corner piers linked by a chamfered plinth, wide stone moulded cornice, brick parapet with stone copings, surmounted by tall gadrooned stone urns. Breaking middle of parapet two higher brick piers with similar tall stone urns flank a higher section with swept moulded copings, with octagonal framed large wooden clockface. Three simple tall round headed flush box sash windows to first floor. Central painted wooden Corinthian doorcase with fluted pilasters, full entablature with fielded panel frieze, and cornice breaking forward over parallel end blocks and central block over keystone in archivolt. Eight-panel fielded double doors with round headed fanlight and bolection surround. Door flanked by two projecting moulded brick aedicules with moulded cornice and hemicyle headed brick niche with stone base and square-headed flush box sash window, curved on plan, set in back. Round headed lower door openings next corners with panelled doors and semi-circular radial fanlights.

Late C20 glazed block at front and buildings linked to rear not of special interest.

Listing NGR: SP9258911186