Tyttenhanger House

Tyttenhanger House

A former country house, now offices, dating from around 1655, possibly designed by Peter Mills for Sir H. Blount. The building was altered in the early 18th century and underwent repairs in 1783 and 1789 by Sir John Soane for C. Yorke. Further extensions were added in the 18th century, with few alterations in the 19th and 20th centuries.

The house is constructed in red brick with moulded and gauged dressings, stone plinth (possibly re-using material from an earlier building on the site), and a steep hipped tiled roof. It displays the Artisan Mannerist style and rises to three storeys with an attic, arranged on a squarish H plan with shallow projecting wings.

The symmetrical garden or original entrance front has a 2:5:2 window arrangement. Access is via steps leading to a central entrance with a semi-circular traceried fanlight over a two-thirds glazed door, surrounded by moulded stonework. Above this sits a richly carved projecting timber hood with scrolled pediment and brackets. The windows are single mullion and transom timber casements in moulded brick surrounds. Ground floor windows have cornices below a prominent continuous plat band, while first floor windows feature aprons and pedimented architraves. The outer and mid bays of the main range have segmental pediments, with the centre defined by a lugged architrave framed by pilasters with scrolled bases. Second floor windows are square with architraves and aprons to pediments below. The eaves are deep and boxed. Chamfered brick quoins articulate the return and re-entrant angles of the wings, with blind windows set into the re-entrant walls. Pedimented dormers (in a 1:3:1 arrangement) and tall stacks at the junctions of the main range and wings (featuring panelled sides, bases and moulded caps) further enrich the composition. A large square wooden clock turret surmounts the front ridge at the centre, topped by an open octagonal bell chamber with cupola and weathervane finial.

The left return elevation is asymmetrical with a 2:3 arrangement, three closely spaced bays towards the front and two wider bays towards the rear. A bracketed hood shelters a central ground floor French window flanked by blind openings. First floor windows have pedimented architraves matching the centre of the main front. Three evenly spaced dormers and a small capped stack (left of centre) complete this elevation.

The right return is the least formal facade, with four bays grouped towards the centre and casements of two to six lights. A stone arched head frames a basement opening. First and second floor blind openings occupy the outer bays. This elevation contains one dormer and one small capped stack.

The rear or later entrance front is asymmetrical (2:5:2), with irregular fenestration in the main range to accommodate staircases. Steps lead to a central entrance with moulded timber surround and console brackets supporting a pediment. Crosswings are shallower than at the front, with plain brick surrounds to cross glazed casements and some floating cornices. A plat band runs along the elevation, blocked at the angles. The right wing has blind openings except on the second floor, while the left wing has a blocked ground floor door. A half basement is present beneath the building. Dormers are arranged 1:5:1, with two tall cross axial stacks at the junctions with the wings (panelled sides and moulded caps) and a large stack in the central valley.

The interior retains significant period features. The ground floor rear hall, now reception, contains re-used Jacobean panelling. Front rooms were remodelled in the early 18th century. The hall features two Doric piers replacing an original screen from the passage. The original main staircase rises the full height of three storeys within an open well, enriched with richly carved square newels topped with baskets of fruit and drops. Rather than balusters, elaborate pierced foliage panels run between the rails, which feature a moulded handrail and string with a bayleaf frieze.

The first floor landing has massive carved wood doorcases to the principal rooms, some containing re-set linenfold panelling and late 18th-century chimney pieces. The second floor includes a chapel fitted with linenfold and Jacobean panelling, two pews, pulpit and reading desk. The Lord's Prayer, Ten Commandments and Credo are painted over the fireplace. Early 17th-century heraldic glass survives in the windows. The attic contains a long gallery with linenfold panelling.

A secondary staircase features ball finials to square newels, turned balusters and moulded handrail.

An L-shaped single-storey extension extends from the right return towards the rear, with flat arched heads and plain brick surrounds to windows of similar design, beneath a hipped roof.

The entrance gates, wrought iron and dated 1873, are attached to the north. A low wall extends from the left end of the garden front, running forward to steps descending to a terrace on the left of the house. Piers with stone caps and ball finials punctuate the wall.