Palace House

BISHOPS WALTHAM BISHOP'S LANE SU 55 17 9/93 Palace House 5.3.67 (Formerly under Winchester Road) GV II*

House. c1700 and c1800, with mid C19 extensions and renovation. Walls of brickwork of English bond to the earlier part, Flemish and Flemish Garden Wall bond to the later, the lower parts of the old block having some ashlar and some rubble stonework: 1st floor band to the earlier part, rubbed flat arches. Tile roof, a double pile: hip and gable to the service wing. There is a later block (c1800) on the north, attached to an earlier block, each of two storeys and attic, but the earlier with lower levels of the upper floors and also with a basement, open to a lower ground level: at the east side is an outshot (c19) of two storeys and basement, and attached to the south-east corner a small service wing of one storey above a basement. The north front elevation is regular, showing as two storeys four windows: sashes in reveals and a half-glazed door at the third bay. The south elevation is less regular, of three windows: coved plaster eaves, gabled dormers, sashes (including a round-headed intermediate staircase window), the basement having casements and a plain doorway with simple pediment on wood cheeks. The west elevation has small windows and a Tuscan porch positioned at the south side, with two pilasters and two plain columns, architrave and 6-panelled door. Inside, two rooms are panelled with C18 pinewood panelling, re-set from a local house. The staircase (c1800) starts in the old part and reaches the 1st floor level of the front, with descending short staircases from the landing to the south rooms. The house has a low natural ground level at the rear (suggesting that the present ground level at the front is made-up) and several watercourses are channelled beneath the building. The presence of stonework in the lower walls of the earlier unit, and the position of the house in relation to the surrounding ancient monument (of the Bishops' Palace) suggests the possibility of a medieval origin.

Listing NGR: SU5514217271