Purley Park

Purley Park is a house of 1795, designed by James Wyatt for Anthony Morris Storer, and construction began in 1801. It is now used as a home for people with learning disabilities. The house is built of Portland stone with a hipped slate roof. It has three storeys, a plinth, a plat band between the ground and first floors, a parapet, and ridge stacks positioned off-centre to the left and right. The main facade has five bays with glazing bar sashes and blind boxes. The central bay is wider, flanked by pilaster strips, with panelling above the ground floor. The first floor has a central tripartite sash window with a triangular pediment. Two four-panelled doors are centrally situated, flanked by pilaster strips and glazing bar sashes, with a cornice above. A porte cochère features coupled Tuscan columns supporting a full entablature topped with a wrought iron balustrade.

The garden front has three bays, mirroring the central arrangement of the main facade with pilaster strips flanking the central bay, panelling above the ground floor, and a central first floor tripartite sash with a triangular pediment. A central ground floor bow is supported by four Tuscan columns, behind which are three pairs of French casements with side lights, and a wrought iron balustrade above. French casements with sidelights and fanlights are in the two outer ground floor bays. A late 18th century, two-storey service block of white painted brick with slate roofs is located to the west of the main house.

The interior features a complete 18th century ensemble. The entrance hall has a delicate plaster ceiling, a screen of Ionic columns to the north with a lower ceiling, niches to the east and west, and doorcases with urns and husk festoons. A double-height staircase hall has a curved wall to the south, a two-flight stone staircase with intersecting oval wrought iron balustrades, a delicate plaster ceiling, and wall plasterwork. Other ground floor rooms retain 18th century fittings, including fireplaces, doors, doorcases, plaster friezes, and delicate plaster ceilings. The second floor has an enclosed gallery with lunettes and a central oval lantern with plaster decoration.