17 Vineyards and attached railings

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 19 August 2021 to amend dates, correct sentence in description and to reformat the text to current standards

656-1/31/1768

VINEYARDS No.17 and attached railings

(Formerly Listed as: THE VINEYARDS Nos.11-19 (Consec))

12/06/50

GV II House. c1760. Vineyards developed by Thomas Omer; site of Nos 16-19 underleased to William Biggs.

MATERIALS: limestone ashlar to front, ashlar and brick to rear, double and triple-pile parapeted Welsh Slate roof, with two tall ashlar right-end stacks to front range and ashlar right-end stack to rear range.

EXTERIOR: three storeys. Canted bay to left with door in centre; single bay to right. Six-panel door set within architrave and beneath a C19 hood on scrolled consoles. Plain plate glass sashes to all windows: two to ground floor of bay, three to upper floors of bay. Platband at first floor level, moulded stringcourse at second floor, moulded eaves cornice and parapet above.

INTERIOR: not inspected.

HISTORY: this stands on ground formerly the property of Hayne family from 1638 when Thomas Hayne bought it from William Snygge; it passed by inheritance to Charles Hayne in 1750 who cleared it of mortgage and other encumbrances. By indenture of 26 February 1755, in which Charles Hayne sold to Thomas Omer, Gent, and Thomas Jelly, Carpenter, his trustee, the site of Vineyards for building at yearly rent of £50. Belmont was constructed on west edge of same ground.

The plot on which the present Vineyards terrace is built is referred to by the name ‘Vineyards’ (or similar archaic variants) throughout its documented history, though it is uncertain when its use for growing vines ceased.

The row to north of the Countess of Huntingdon's Chapel was originally called Harlequin Row because of unusual use of brick and stone in construction. No 17 appears to have originally incorporated No.16, and thus formed a large symmetrically fronted house with a fairly early canted bay on the principal facade. It was later sub-divided in C19, at which time the present rear wing was built (qv No.16). The house has undergone extensive repair in recent years.

Listing NGR: ST7503165418