The Chestnuts

The Chestnuts is an early to mid-18th century house, designed in the style of James Clarke of Newbury, with the date 1720 noted on the roof and some chimneys dated 1740. The building has two storeys and an attic, featuring a symmetrical south front with five windows. It has a hipped roof with moulded brick stacks and is constructed of multi-coloured stock brick with red brick dressings. Giant pilasters on the quoins support an entablature, and the slightly projecting three-bay center is topped with pediments. There are dormer sashes flanking the central pediment and a round-arched lunette with radial glazing above it. The recessed sash windows have gauged, segmental arches and glazing bars. A prostyle Doric portico with a pediment leads to an architraved, segmental arched doorway that includes a fanlight with margin lights and a raised and fielded panel door. The interior is notable for its later alterations, featuring a panelled dado and enriched plaster cornices. A mid-18th century dog-leg staircase with an open string, curved brackets, turned balusters, a swept handrail, and column newels is also present. The original oak roof structure includes diagonal trusses.