Beatrice Webb House

ABINGER C.P. PASTUREWOOD ROAD TQ 14SW

6/54 Beatrice Webb House 13/3/73 (Formerly listed as Pasture Wood) II

House, now conference centre. 1893 by W. Flockhart, for Frederick Merrilees in Tudor style, extended to rear and right by E. Lutyens in 1906. Brown brick below with half-timber above, colourwash render infilled and plain tiled Mansard roofs. T-shaped plan with former service range projecting to left now linked to enclose entrance court. Two storeys and attics to left of centre, 3 storeys to right and two storeys on left. Tall, panelled and ribbed stacks to left end of left bay, further stacks at junction of ranges and to rear. Gable end to right with projecting first floor. Two first floor and one gabled window across. Two 3-light, leaded second floor windows, one 7-light window to centre, with centre 3-lights projecting, to first floor right. Square bay to ground floor right with two 10-light leaded windows under billeted lintels. Two flat roof leaded dormers to left of centre and three, leaded, 3-light windows to first floor, pentice across ground floor with four by 2, stone-dressed, lights. Irregular fenestration in link bay to left to 6 bay stable range. Three steep gables and six windows across the first floor. 8 windows below. Double doors to left. Main entrance to left of centre in big gable with chamfered and moulded braced entrance to porch recess. Arched with billeted lintel over. Panelled door to left hand wall of porch recess under 4-centred arch with keystoned, gauged brick lintel. Single storey flat roofed extensions to right. Right hand return front:- massive off- set plinth to 3 diagonal stacks, two windows in plinth, roof sweeping down to loggia. Rear - half-H shape with recessed centre range and projecting end gables with attic windows. One first floor window to each (an oriel to left) and large mullioned and transomed window to ground floor. Three leaded dormers. Square bay to ground floor left of centre and flat hood across centre ground floor recess. Interior:- Stained glass in one of inglenooks designed by George Bernard Shaw and made by Caroline Townsend showing Shaw, Sidney Webb and E. R. Pease (Secretary of the Fabian Society), in medieval dress. Other Fabians below include H. G. Wells. Rock garden laid out by G. Jekyll.

PEVSNER: BUILDINGS OF ENGLAND, SURREY (1971) p.316.

Listing NGR: TQ1190844447