Bassett House And Retaining Walls To Terrace On East Side

ST 76 SE CLAVERTON WARMINSTER ROAD (east side)

7/53 Bassett House and Retaining Walls to Terrace on east side

25.1.77 II G.V. Detached Italianate villa, built as the Aqueduct Hotel in 1836, for George Vivian of Claverton Manor (q.v.). Ashlar; hipped slate roof with overhanging bracketted eaves; panelled ashlar stacks to sides. 2 storeys and basement to garden (east) elevation. The basement projects in slightly advanced sections, marked by rustication, with glazing bar sash windows to the outer bays and a central Diocletion window. The main part of the house stands on the basement : 3 bays, the outer ones are set back behind 4-bay arcaded loggias, the central bay has a hipped roof; flights of steps lead down on each side, pierced parapets; the house has square headed windows on the ground floor and square headed windows under arched radiating fanlights, the central windows are triple with small balconies; architraves around arches; first floor cill band and moulded cornice over ground floor. Ashlar retaining wall to terrace with pierced parapet. The drive-front has 4 bays: large pane sash windows in plain architraves on ground floor with moulded string course over; 3 square headed windows under arched fanlights on first floor (the outer ones are triple), with a cill band; small central attic window surmounted by a gable which is broken out of the eaves line. Central gabled, projecting porch with semi-circular headed doorway and Vivian arms over. (N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol, 1958).

Listing NGR: ST7835762660