Clifton House

Clifton House is a house dating to circa 1851, designed by Owen Browne Carter. It has undergone alterations in the 1870s and the 20th century, with a major restoration carried out between 1991 and 1993. The principal east-facing elevation is constructed from yellow brick in a header bond, set upon a plinth of coursed flint, with dressings of Bath stone. The other elevations are rendered and scored to resemble ashlar. The roof is covered with Welsh slate, and has brick chimneys with ashlar cornices and terracotta pots. The house is two storeys high, with a cellar and attic. It has a four-by-two bay layout.

The principal east elevation features a two-storey, two-bay bow in the centre. Rusticated quoins are present. The window architraves are adorned with acanthus-leaf modillions. Those on the ground floor incorporate matching modillions to the cornices and friezes, which feature floral and grape vine motifs. A scrolled band runs along the first floor. The eaves cornice has an egg-and-tongue moulding. Above the bow, the cornice steps up and includes floral swags to the frieze and acanthus-leaf modillions to the cornice. A balustrade, pierced with arches, runs along the top of the bow, with panelled end blocks, console brackets, and relief-moulded panels. The windows are sash windows with margin glazing bars; those in the bow are curved. A circa 1991 French window is centrally placed in the roof of the bow, replacing a former dormer window.

The right return elevation has a restored central entrance, with steps and a Tuscan portico dating from circa 1991. The original four-panel door, with the two upper panels round-arched and glazed, has been re-set. An original round-arched window with glazing bars and etched glass is positioned above the door. There are 16-pane sash windows to each floor on the right, with a small 1980s window to the first floor left. Two cellar windows are also present.

The left return elevation has two sashes with margin glazing bars on the ground floor; the one on the left was replaced circa 1991, superseding an earlier porch added in the 1870s. Two further 16-pane sashes are positioned above. A circa 1991 dormer and chimney are located on the site of the original.

The rear elevation incorporates circa 1991 French windows flanking a 16-pane sash and a part-glazed panelled door. On the first floor, three 16-pane sashes are present (not all original), alongside a round-arched window with glazing bars and etched glass (reused from elsewhere in the house) in the third bay.

The interior retains much of the original moulded woodwork and plasterwork, including skirtings, dado rails, picture rails, architraves, panelled doors, window shutters, decorative bracketed archivolts, and ceiling mouldings. The fireplaces have polished grey marble, with pilasters and decorative mouldings, the Drawing Room fireplace being notable for its pronounced pilaster entasis. The staircase is in its original position and has been restored following late 19th and 20th century alterations; some original pieces of handrail remain. The ceiling mouldings in the entrance hall and on both floors of the stair hall are particularly elaborate, as is the treatment of the stair roof light.