Holywell House

SHELLINGFORD FERNHAM ROAD (North side) SU39SW 5/207 Holywell House GV II*

House. Mid C17. Uncoursed limestone rubble, some brick quoins; stone slate roof; brick stacks. L-plan. 2 storeys, 2 storeys and attic to left cross wing; 4-window range. Timber lintel, brick jambs to C20 door and porch at junction with cross wing. Chamfered timber lintels over C20 two- and 3-light casements and 2 blocked casements to ground floor right. Gabled roof, cross gabled to left wing; gable end stack to right and quadruple-flued ridge stack in rear left wing. One 2-light and one 3-light leaded window to rear. To rear of left wing are label-moulds over one 2-light and one 3-light chamfered cavetto-moulded stone mullioned casements to first and second floors and an early C19 sash to ground floor. Interior: Mid C19 four and 6-panelled and plank doors, some C18 2-panelled and plank doors and C17 ribbed doors in left. Chamfered and stopped beam, blocked original fireplace, to right. Beams to left and centre tenoned into timber framed partition which rises full height of house at the junction between the right wing and left cross wing. Late C20 stairs opposite entry cut through beam in centre room. Left room has C17 panelled dado and a chamfered bressumer over the fireplace. Room to rear left has moulded stone fireplace and fine plaster ceiling of jewelled strapwork with doves holding olives in the corners and various other motifs such as limpets, roses and fleurs-de-lys. First-floor room to front left has plaster rose-en-soleil on ceiling, and a chamfered and stopped beam; to rear left room are various scattered plaster motifs, the motifs being the same as used below. In attic of left wing is a Victorian grate set in an early C18 bolection moulded fireplace, and a 4-bay collar-truss roof with butt purlins. Subsidiary features: late C18 one and a half storey brewhouse and dairy in similar materials attached to left gable wall. Timber lintels over two C20 doors (one to right inserted c.1980) and two C20 windows in 2-window range; two C18 two-light leaded casements to rear. Gabled roof, brick ridge stack to right. Interior: C18 plank doors; open fireplace with late C18 architrave, chamfered beams, straight-flight stairs. The jewelled strapwork ceiling in the house is nearly identical to that at Orchard Cottage, High Street, Stanford-in-the-Vale (dated 1635 (q.v.)) and can therefore be attributed to the same school of craftsmen.

Listing NGR: SU3174893706