Hursley House

SU 4225 HURSLEY HURSLEY PARK

10/1 Hursley House 5/12/55 II*

Large country house. 1721-4, possibly by John James for Heathcote family, enlarged and remodelled 1902-3 by A M Mackenzie for Sir George Cooper. Brick with stone dressings, slate roof. C18 central part of 2 storeys and attic on raised basement, 11 bays with slightly projecting centre, 3 bays with portico on both sides, in 1903 to each end 3 bay cross-wings, projecting a bay added, along with porte cochére to N entrance front, and glass and stone conservatory at one end. N entrance front has in basement small 6-pane sashes in segmental heads. Ground floor string course. In centre stone porte cochére of 2 Doric columns on plinth each side of double doors in architrave, with heavy entablature and low parapet, enclosing steps, and encroaching on stone Doric portico to centre 3 bays. Each side 4 tall 18-pane sashes with stone sills. On 1st floor level recessed panels above and below 18-pane sashes, except for centre bays. Wings are similar to centre with stone quoins, basement and Doric portico, and 3 15-pane sashes on ground and 3 18-pane sashes above with apron below. Stone cornice to hipped roof with pedimented dormers containing 12-pane sashes. To centre of roof raised viewing platform with stone balustrade, and large stacks with stone heads at corners and similar stacks symmetrically positioned. Inside central 1903 full depth hall, formerly lined with G Gibbons panelling from Winchester College Chapel, removed except for door panels, but these and other late C17 style features probably are 1903. Off central hall run corridors along middle of building. Room to right of centre on entrance front c1820 room with neo-classical fireplace of pilasters and decorated frieze. On other side of corridor 2 small rooms of bolection panelling and overmantles of C17 linen fold and arcaded panelling. Further along in wing Wedgewood room of reassembled Adam plasterwork and fireplace. At end of corridor staircase containing C18 parts. To left of centre on entrance front Library with reused C18 panelling. On opposite side Boudoir c19O5 with C16 strap- work panelling with pilasters. Across a corner is Elizabethan fireplace of carved oolitic limestone with carved timber overmantle. Pevsner says of it 'A term atlas and a term caryatid imprisoned in strapwork and a lintel with 4 parts of the world most entertainingly portrayed and provided with a multitude of animals'. In drawing room beside some C18 panelling and fire- place. Country Life; Vol. XVI; p ; & Vol. XXIII: p

Listing NGR: SP4375931385