The Pavilion

A bowling green pavilion built in 1700–01, attributed to both Wren and Hawksmoor (though unverified), commissioned by William III. Originally one of four pavilions, it formerly stood as a three by two bay structure with a tall external stack. The building underwent significant alterations in 1748 for Princess Amelia, and further additions in 1792 and 1811 (both since demolished) for the Dukes of Gloucester and Kent. The south west elevation was probably rebuilt in the mid-19th century, with additional work dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The building is constructed of red-brown brick with red brick and ashlar dressings. It displays a hipped slate roof with deep moulded timber cornice and leaded parapet. The structure now stands as a square-plan building of two storeys with attics and basements, encompassing three bays, incorporating full-height canted bays and later extensions.

The north east elevation contains the original north east angle of the building, built in red-brown brick with alternating red brick and ashlar quoins and a cyma-moulded stone plinth. Some brickwork is smaller than the norm for the period. The ground floor retains a sash window of three by six panes with thick chamfered glazing bars in an exposed box, set within a former entrance and now with blocked brickwork below. The opening features a three-quarter round moulded red brick reveal, a flat rubbed brick arch, and a stone cill. The first floor sash window is similarly detailed with three by two panes. A two-storey flat-roofed porch of the late 19th century is executed in matching detail, with an oak door of eight fielded panels and a three by two pane sash above. The return features a tall narrow three and six light window on each storey. A two-storey addition to the left, dating to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, contains ground floor and first floor sashes with slender glazing bars, stone cills, and a stone cornice.

The north west elevation shows that the two left-hand bays belong to the original building, while the right-hand bay probably dates to the mid-19th century, reusing original materials and closely replicating the original detail. The elevation displays two storeys and a basement. The left bays contain tall three by six pane sashes identical to those on the north east elevation. Upper storey windows measure three by two panes. The third bay features blind recesses with later 20th-century dummy windows matching the originals. The cyma-moulded plinth of the early building is obscured by a terrace of 19th-century construction. Part of the early cornice may be reused to the left.

The south west elevation, probably mid-19th century in date, reuses original ashlar dressings and brickwork, though some basement brickwork is 19th-century. It is two storeys with attics and a basement, arranged as a symmetrical three-bay facade with a three-storey canted bay. The design features a cyma-moulded stone plinth, continuous moulded ashlar storey band below the ground floor, and a plain ashlar band to the first floor of the bay, with red brick dressings to the bay angles. Basement sashes measure three by three panes with heavy chamfered glazing bars. Ground floor windows are three by five panes with thin chamfered glazing bars, replicating the openings of the early house. Upper floor sashes measure three by two panes. A pedimented attic dormer contains a pair of four-paned casements. Flanking triangular terraces with retaining walls include basement entrances and an oculus to the right return.

The south east elevation is two storeys with attics and a basement. The early 18th-century work incorporates a canted bay of 1748 with later restoration, extended south west in the mid-19th century. The elevation displays alternating red brick and ashlar quoins. The bay features a moulded ashlar storey band above the basement and a plain first floor storey band. Basement sashes measure three by three panes with thick chamfered glazing bars in recessed boxes with square brick reveals. Ground floor sashes are three by five panes with thick chamfered glazing bars in recessed boxes with square brick reveals under flat red brick arches. Upper floor sashes measure three by two panes, similarly detailed with partly exposed boxes, square brick reveals, and flat red brick arches with moulded cills. The left-hand extension contains a three by six pane ground floor window and three by two pane sash above, both in openings with three-quarter roll mouldings under near-flat rubbed brick arches and moulded cills. A pedimented dormer matches that on the south west front.

A tall brick stack, formerly external, displays moulded brick bands and cornice with some replaced brickwork. The deep moulded cornice supports urns resembling those shown in a 1744 drawing and probably original, mounted on pedestals at the angles. Iron rain water goods carry a crest.

The interior contains two fully panelled ground floor rooms, one with an angle chimneypiece and embellished cornices. A marble mantelpiece with scrolled brackets and fireback, said to depict Charles I, stands in the south west room. The panelled stair well features a dog-leg closed string stair with square newels, some with chamfered caps, moulded rail, and turned balusters. Upper floor rooms were formerly fully panelled, with cyma-moulded cornices, one containing an angle chimneypiece with a good iron basket grate and a later 19th-century surround. A similar grate exists in the south west bedroom. A stick baluster attic stair and iron balustrade lead to the basement stair. Oak doors display three to six fielded panels, with upper floor doors featuring steel H hinges. Many doors retain good brass furniture, some with escutchion plates bearing royal cyphers. Most windows are fitted with folding shutters.