Shire House

BODMIN

SX0766 MOUNT FOLLY SQUARE 629-1/0/93 (East side) 26/03/49 Shire House (Formerly Listed as: MOUNT FOLLY SQUARE Mayoralty House)

GV II*

Judges' lodgings. c1840. By Joseph Pascoe of Bodmin. MATERIALS: rusticated granite ashlar on plinth to ground floor; stucco above with giant Tuscan pilasters; paired pilasters clasping the corners and pilasters flanking the central bays; stepped eaves entablature; rag slate hipped roof with deep projecting eaves on widely-spaced brackets; brick end and axial stacks with louvered clay pots. PLAN: large square plan with central stair hall. Classical style. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys over basement; 2 nearly identical symmetrical 5-window fronts facing west and north, both with central doorways. Original hornless sashes with glazing bars throughout, those to upper floors with margin panes; very tall 1st-floor windows. West front has C20 glazed porch standing on original moulded granite steps; tripartite inner doorway with original segmental-arched fanlight. North front has original overlight with margin panes over C20 door approached by C20 ramp on the right. East front is 3 bays and similarly detailed; large C20 ground-floor extension. INTERIOR: moulded plaster ceiling cornices to the principal rooms and stair hall (some to ground floor concealed by false ceilings) some with central roses with acanthus leaves; open-well staircase with open string, Vitruvian scroll detail and mahogany handrail scrolled over newel, service stair with ramped handrail; panelled doors and window shutters and at least 2 chimneypieces. An elegant and complete example, which forms a group with Shire Hall (qv). (Colvin H: A Bibliographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840: London: 1978-: 622).

Listing NGR: SX0720366911