Forston House And Attached Terrace Walls To West

Forston House is a large house situated within extensive grounds, dating from the early 18th century and built by Robert Browne of Frampton. It is constructed of brick in Flemish bond, with ashlar dressings, quoins, and plat bands. The roofs are slate, with parallel ridges hidden by an attic storey, and brick stacks with stone cornices are centrally placed along the ridges. The original plan was a two-room by two-room cube layout, incorporating a central hall and staircase running from west to east.

The west elevation features two storeys and an attic, with ashlar plinths, strings, parapet coping, and flush quoins. A parapet wall screens the attic, sweeping down in a curved form on either side to just above eaves level and surmounted by decorative vases. The elevation is punctuated by five windows to the main storeys, and three windows to the attic. Double-hung sash windows with glazing bars are set within plain stone architraves. A central doorway has been remodelled with a 20th-century architrave, and retains an early 18th-century wooden canopy supported by carved console brackets. The door itself has a lower panel and twelve upper lights with glazing bars. The east elevation is largely obscured by later additions, but broadly mirrors the west front in design. The north and south elevations are of two storeys with four windows each, featuring uniform sash windows. A moulded stone eaves cornice returns on the south front. The north side is partially concealed by a 20th-century wing, which incorporates a curvilinear gable resembling that of the west front. A reset stone pediment, originating from the early 18th century and likely transferred from the west front, sits above the 20th-century doorway. The pediment is supported by console brackets and features a cartouche containing the arms of the Browne family within a triangular tympanum.

The interior rooms are panelled, with some retaining original bolection-moulded panelling, panelled dados, and moulded dado rails. The oak staircase has undergone extensive repair, and showcases turned and moulded newels, balusters, and a moulded handrail.

Attached to the west of the house is a terrace featuring low ashlar walls with flat copings, and pedestal piers supporting 18th-century urns.