The Elms Including Front Garden Wall, Gate Piers And Gates

SU 70 NW 4/23

HAVANT Bedhampton LOWER ROAD No 2 (The Elms), including front garden wall, gate piers, and gates.

(Formerly listed as The Elms under Manor Road)

16.5.52 II* House. C18 Gothick with an early C19 extension built to accommodate a visit by the Duke of Wellington. Late C18, early C19. Stucco, with a slate roof. The tall centre part has a symmetrical front (east) of three storeys, three windows, and set back at each end are lower wings, of two storeys and attic, one window to the gabled front, the north side being now masked by the later forward extension, which comprises a tower and a windowless rectangular block (of about one and a half storeys) with top-lighting. The centre has a crenellated parapet and the openings have ogee heads (capped by decorative roundels) above the windows, which on the second floor have cills at the foot of the curves, and on the 1st and ground floor include Venetian lights on each side, also repeated on the south wing (with blank side panels); the walls are grooved with a rustication pattern. Sashes. The central doorway is of classical form, with a Tuscan entablature and Gothic triple attached columns; this is enclosed in a later simple classical porch with square columns, now walled-in with side windows and a plain doorway.

The tower has Gothick niches, and narrow corner pilasters, each with three shallow panels marked by circular designs and cusping. The front wall continues from the tower northwards, with a four oval-arched blind arcade and rusticating bands. This block encloses the chief feature of the house, the Wellington Room. This is a rectangular apartment, with four Ionic columns at the north (short) side, supporting an entablature which continues round the room as a decorative frieze, with Greek ornament. Above this frieze there is coving up to a flat ceiling, which has in the centre an octagonal opening, again with coving to the base of the top light. The lower walls have a dentilled band above three tiers of panelling, and a skirting; there are niches and floral decorations to enrich the interior (recently renovated). Front gate piers with pineapples, and a 'Tudor' side gate within a vail, also capped with pineapples.

Listing NGR: SU7013706384