The Priory

The Priory is a country mansion of the early 18th century with additions of the mid-18th century, altered in the 19th and 20th centuries. The main fronts are of stucco with a slate roof and some leaded flats. The north and east elevations are classical facades, the east elevation altered in the mid-20th century when the double-height dining room was created. The east and west elevations acquired canted bays at their northern ends in the mid-18th century.

The symmetrical east elevation is of two storeys and attic, with 1.3.1 windows, with a tall room behind the centrepiece and half-octagonal projections at each end. It has a parapet with stone coping and wood modillion cornice (carried round the ends with modillions), quoins, architraves, first floor band, plinth, and three panels with swags above the taller openings of the centrepiece. The ends are simpler with keys to the plain openings. The windows are sashes, with sashes also to the dormers, which have leaded flat roofs. The roof is hipped and behind it is a cupola on a square clock tower with cornice on brackets.

The north elevation, incorporating the half-octagon at its east side, is regular, of two storeys and attic, with 3.4.2 windows and a taller half-octagonal projection at its west end. It has a parapet, coved cornice, plain architraves, first floor band to the slightly-recessed centre, and plinth. The windows are sashes, some Victorian. The entrance porch is of a Doric Order with blocking course, entablature with modillions and two plain columns forward of two pilasters, now filled in with glazing.

The general style continues along most of the south elevation, which has walls of mixed stone and flint with stone dressings. A south-projecting single-storeyed service wing on the west side abuts the stream, with a stone base wall, flint walls with red brick quoins and band, a tile roof, and mullioned and transomed windows.

The interiors are mostly of the 18th century and panelled. The hall is entirely bolection panelled with Doric fluted pilasters. An arch, the reveal of which is more simply treated suggesting 19th or 20th century alteration, provides a view of the stairs. These are in two flights with landings in a narrow open well, with open string, three barleysugar balusters per tread, and an elaborate tread end treatment with blocks and consoles. The newels are fluted Corinthian and the panelled dado carries corresponding pilasters.

The library is fully ovolo panelled with an Ionic cornice. The drawing room was probably formed in the 1920s or 1930s to take the four large paintings around which its moulded decoration has been designed and which are affixed by bolection surrounds. These paintings are capricci of excellent Continental quality which came from Brook House, Park Lane (demolished 1933), perhaps at the death of Sir Ernest Cassel to whom the then owner Lady Brecknock was related. It has a high coved ceiling, a black marble fireplace of austere Greek Revival character, and a large sideboard with four lion masks and feet to legs.

The kitchen in the rear wing is nearly intact as furnished in the mid-18th century or earlier with wide-arched fireplace, fitted dresser and curvaceous hanging shelves. The back stair is of three flights, dog-leg and closed string, with bulbous column-on-vase balusters, halved on the square newels. It is probably early 18th century. On the first floor, which was reduced in size when the dining room was formed, there are several panelled rooms with bolection panelling where undisturbed and contemporary chimneypieces.

The house is on the site of a Benedictine nunnery founded circa 986. The canalised stream from the River Test, turning at right-angles and passing under the house, follows the line created for the drainage of the monastic buildings, and the re-use of stone, as well as some very thick interior walls, are traces of the medieval building.