Landing House

SZ59NW 947/5/10005 05-JUL-00

COWES PIER ROAD Norris Estate Landing House

II*

Landing house to Osborne House. 1855-6; by John Blandford, Clerk of Works for the Osborne estate. Coursed stone with dressed stone quoins and coping. Low-pitched Roman tile pyramidal roof with deep modillioned eaves. PLAN: Central entrance to the basement [probably boathouse] with wide imperial staircase to the main entrance above into the principal floor with its two rooms and central stair hall with a staircase to the rear entrance at the top of the tower. There is a roof terrace on top of the main block and flanking quadrant walls with lower terraces. Italianate/Tuscan style. EXTERIOR: 1 storey over basement and 2-storey tower. Symmetrical north east front . Large central round arch to basement flanked by small square windows with iron bars, and wide imperial staircase with shallow steps to central doorway above with small canopy on brackets and panelled door with round-headed glazed top panels; two small square windows either side and central tower above with window at front and occulus above and on each side, the tower has a low-pitched pyramidal roof with deep modillioned eaves and a doorway at the rear. Semi-circular pierced balustrade with square stone piers [some missing] and timber beams forming pergola. INTERIOR: The entrance to the basement rooms is arched. Joinery includes panelled doors, but the staircase was replaced in the C20. NOTE: There was a large pier in front from which visitors to Osborne would embark. The Landing House was used to house a coast guard as well as serving as a reception room. SOURCE: Buildings of England, p.759.

Listing NGR: SZ5239995481