Peasmarsh Place

TQ 82 SE PEASMARSH DEW LANE

15/719 Peasmarsh Place

GV II

Former manor house, now residential house for the elderly. Core of 1616 with early C19 alterations almost entirely concealed by refacing and remodelling by Sir Edwin Cooper in 1937 for Lord Davenport on earlier foundations, possibly of a C12 house known to have been built on the site. Neo-Georgian style, red brick with stone dressings and tiled roof. 2 storeys roughly L-shaped with 3 parallel ranges. West elevation of 5 bays. Parapet with stone coping partly concealing hipped roof. First floor has 2 end 'oeil de boeuf' windows and 3 12-paned sashes with horns and wooden shutters. Ground floor has 4 similar windows. Florid Neo-Georgian central doorcase with open pediment, 2 columns with fluted capitals and 2 pilasters. Deeply carved fruit and floral swag over semi-circular fanlight. Double 6 panelled doors. Doorcase flanked by sidelights. Stone plaque above with crest of Davenport family. 2 brick chimneystacks. South elevation has 11 windows including l'oeil de boeuf window on first floor left end and 2 lancets below. Other windows are 10, 12 and 15-pane sashes with shutters including 2 3-light canted bays through 2 floors at ends. Ground floor has 2 French windows. East elevation has 5 12- paned sashes with horns and shutters. Interior contains early C19 service staircase with mahogany handrail, 2 stick balusters to each tread and turned newel post. Otherwise interior features are by Sir Edwin Cooper. Entrance hall has early C18 style panelling, cornice with ovolo moulding, dado rail, moulded skirting boards and 6 fielded panelled doors. Moulded round-headed arch with wreath to hall corridor Wooden fireplace of early C18 type with deep mantlepiece with eared architraves with rosettes and panel with floral swag. Glazed screen by Sir Edwin Cooper separating front door and entrance hall. Hall corridor has ceiling of octagonal coffered panels and, 4 roundels with wreaths to walls and pedimented door surround. Staircase hall has round-headed arch with wreath and large well staircase with glazed roof above having 2 turned balusters to each tread and oak handrail terminating in spiral newel post. Dado rail. Drawing Room has brought in late C18 Adam style wooden fireplace with rams heads, rosettes and swags. Boudoir has brought in late C18 wooden fireplace with 3 panels of swags and rosettes. 01d foundations reported under dining room but not visible at time of survey. c1850 the property was bought by Charles Liddell, a brother of Lord Ravensworth and an engineer who was a pupil of George Stevenson. It was at Peasmarsh Place that his niece, Alice Liddell, first heard the stories later published as 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. Lewis Carroll was a frequent visitor to-the house.

Listing NGR: TQ8846521804