Sandleford Priory

SU 46SE GREENHAM NEWTOWN ROAD (east side)

10/4 Sandleford Priory 6.6.52 GV I

House, now school. C14 and 1780-1, James Wyatt. Rendered with slate roof. 2 stacks on ridge, end stack to south and 2 to east. T-plan. West front: 2 storeys. 2:1:1:1 2 bays. Glazing bar sashes with hood moulds, arched on first floor. Plinth, string course, cornice and battlemented parapet. 2 end bays to right and left project slightly, with diagonal buttresses and battlemented gables with pinnacles and quatrefoil panels in tympana. Projecting central bay has raised attic with battlemented parapet and quatrefoil panel. First floor windows to right and left have curved wrought iron balconies. Central doorway with 4-centered arch, side light and 2 studded doors. 2 storey, 5 bay addition set back to left with cornice and battlemented parapet. C.1800 kitchen block to far left, of brick with hipped slate roof and 2 thermal windows lighting double height space. South front has large segmental bow. Asymmetrical east front. East wing: C14 flint and stone chapel to east refaced in 1780-1 and rendered. Parapet, crow stepped gable ends and tiled roof. 3 bays with diagonal buttresses. West front with large segmental headed window and Gothick ogee arch above. Interior: Gothick entrance hall with plaster ceiling and 2 niches either side of door to east. Vestigial great hall, and screens passage with plaster fan vaults on slender columns. Punch's room has dais at north with Doric columns supporting shallow saucer dome above. Oval room adjoining to east with Adamish decoration including wedgewood panels above cornice.Remodelled chapel retains c.1400-20 roof with moulded arched braces and traces of original colouring. Top of C14 arch visible in roof to west. Landscaped grounds and lake to east by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown. The priory on the site was founded for Augustinian Canons. c.1200. The house is important for its surviving C14 work and as an excellent and complete example of C18 Gothick. V.C.H.Vol.4. pp.84-87 (including plan).B.O.E.Berkshire.pp.212-213.

Listing NGR: SU4767464465