Fernchase Manor

Fernchase Manor

A large house of the early 19th century with later 19th century reglazing. The building is stuccoed with slate roofs and chimney stacks featuring rendered shafts.

The house is set in parkland facing south-west and has an approximately rectangular plan. The design comprises a double-depth main block at the centre, flanked by symmetrical pavilions projecting to the front, with a portico between them. A central entrance leads into a large stair hall, with principal rooms to the left and right, each heated by end stacks. A single-storey block at the right end, possibly a later addition, has a second entrance on the right side. Two blocks adjoin the left end.

The main block rises three storeys, the pavilions two storeys, the right end block single storey, and the left end blocks are two and three storeys respectively. A hipped slate roof covers the left end block; other roofs are concealed behind parapets. The chimney shafts have moulded cornices, with some retaining original 19th century chimneypots. The central part of the house displays a symmetrical 3:5:3 bay arrangement. The three-bay pavilions to left and right are canted, and the seven-bay Tuscan portico spans the front with outer bays angled towards the pavilions. The five-bay block features pilasters to left and right and flanking the entrance bay, a moulded band at second floor level and below the parapet, which has a moulded cornice carried on fluted moulded brackets. The parapet is crowned with a swan-necked pediment on a bracketed base, the pediment fitted with an obelisk finial and carved with Renaissance grotesque decoration. Ground and first floor windows are tall two-pane plate glass sashes with moulded architraves and rectangular panels over; first floor windows have shouldered architraves, whilst second floor windows have eared architraves. The portico has three steps up and a moulded entablature crowned with urns having scrolled supports. Pilasters to each bay of the ground floor of the centre block have moulded capitals and acanthus consoles supporting plastered beams to the columns. The flat roof of the portico is top-lit with circular lights having moulded plaster cornices. The canted pavilions have moulded cornices below the parapets, which feature sections of balustrading. Moulded bands appear at first floor level and above the first floor windows. Ground floor windows have moulded architraves and floating cornices, glazed with tall two-pane plate glass sashes; the centre window of the right-hand pavilion is converted to a French window. First floor windows have moulded architraves and baluster-shaped aprons and are similarly glazed. The single-storey right end block, slightly set back, is four bays, with the narrower right-hand bay blind. Bays are divided by pilasters with sunk mouldings and moulded capitals and bases, below a deep projecting cornice. Segmental-headed windows with moulded architraves and facetted keyblocks are glazed with tall two-pane plate glass sashes. On the right return is a Tuscan portico with a blocked doorway and balustrades to each side. Two adjoining two-bay blocks at the left end comprise the far left end block at three storeys and the other at two storeys. Both have moulded bands at first floor level and above the first floor windows. Ground and first floor windows have moulded architraves and aprons, glazed with two-pane plate glass sashes, with the ground floor window on the left being a 20th century replacement. The two-storey block has a moulded cornice below the parapet. The left-hand block features three small first floor windows with a common sill on brackets and deep eaves carried on moulded brackets. The rear elevation is a plainer version of the front, with a central single-storey bay with tall windows, the bays divided by pilasters surmounted by urns. A garden pavilion is attached at the rear left, featuring a three-bay east front with panelled piers and a central round-headed arch with moulded imposts, a keyblock and pediment over. The bays either side have stone balustrades and a parapet with urns.

The interior has not been inspected but is said to be well-preserved.