Pusey House

PUSEY SU39NE 3/173 Pusey House 10/11/52 GV 11*

Country House. c.1750, by John Sanderson for J.A. Pusey. Limestone ashlar; Welsh slate roof; stone stacks. Double depth plan. 2 storeys and attic; 5-bay range flanked by 2-storey, 3-bay canted wings. Tuscan columns and triglyph frieze to semi-circular arched doorway with moulded imposts; 4-panelled double-leaf door with fanlight. Flat stone arches over sashes. Plain string course; bracketed eaves to centre, moulded cornice to side wings. Hipped roof to centre, pyramidal roofs to side wings; end, ridge and lateral stacks. Flanking quadrant walls of squared and coursed limestone each divided into 5 bays by vermiculated stonework steps and ball finials; pedimented features at ends have alternating bands of limestone rubble and vermiculated stone with round-headed niche. Rear elevation has flat stone arches over sashes and floating cornice over central C20 door; similar quadrant walls to sides have busts set in round-headed niches with vermiculated stone voussoirs which are also applied to niches of end features. Interior: Panelled doors and 6-panelled shutters. Entrance hall has Roman Ionic screen to room on left with fine mid C18 fireplace, pedimented with eared architrave and Roman Ionic flanking pilasters. To right are dog leg stairs with wrought iron railings and wreathed handrail and round arch to Dining Room with mid C18 fireplace and rococo surround to mirror over. Drawing room to left of hall made out of two rooms c.1950; 2 late C18 reset fireplaces and mid C20 neo-classical frieze. Round arch from front to rear hall, the side walls having central mirror in semi-circular arch flanked by 6-panelled doors and plasterwork with garlands and musical instruments; corbels to statues in round-headed niches; coved ceiling. Reset late C18 fireplaces in rooms to left and right, latter having C18 book shelves. First floor has rococo frieze to landing, C18 fireplaces, C18 and mid C19 cornices and, to right of main stairs, mid C18 dog leg stairs with turned balusters on closed string to second floor. Subsidiary features: One storey and basement, 2 x 4 bay service block to right has 2 lunettes to front and 3 keyed segmental arches to right over central window and flanking entries to basement. Similar one-storey blocks of 2 x 4 bays attached to front and rear of right side, the rear block retaining C18 two-light leaded casements. (Buildings of England: Berkshire, pp.195-6; H.M. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architecture, 1600-1840, 1978, p.716).

Listing NGR: SU3592296762