St Giles House

WIMBORNE ST GILES SU 0311 ST GILES HOUSE

13/108 St Giles House 18.3.55 GV I

Country house, possibly incorporating late medieval work in the basements, main body of house begun 1651 for Sir A Ashley-Cooper, first Earl of Shaftesbury, further C17 work with some interiors possibly by John Webb (Newman and Pevsner), extensive alterations of 1740-4 by Henry Flitcroft, further work of the 1790s possibly by Soane (Newman and Pevsner), further work of 1813-20 by Thomas Cundy, alterations of 1854 by P C Hardwick. Rear wings demolished early 1970s. Brick, formerly rendered, with ashlar dressings and slate and lead roofs. Rendered C19 stacks. C17 rusticated brick quoin exposed on south front. Some C18 embattled parapets remain. Parapet and first-floor plat bands. Main front to east. Symmetrical: 2 storeys with attics and basements; 7 bay. Ashlar architraves with keystones. Sashes largely C20 replacements in the C18 style (corresponding to Flitcroft's alterations) having thick moulded glazing-bars. Central doorway with moulded ashlar architrave with keystone supporting a curvilinear broken pediment containing a blank shield. 5 pedimented dormer windows. The details of the other facades are broadly similar to those of the east front. A central open courtyard was roofed in the early C19.

Main interior features (house largely in the process of renovation to counter the effects of dry rot at time of survey, 1985): C17 work; large stone chimney piece with sways and garlands of fruit dropping from lions' mouths; ceiling with oval wreath of fruit and oak leaves with side panels; C18 work: a number of Palladian chimney pieces, enriched friezes and cornices and joinery; C19 work: central hallway with columned galleries; staircase with wrought iron balustrade; various joinery and fittings. The basements contains a C16 moulded stone doorway with depressed 4-centred head.

A house of great archaeological complexity. (RCHM, Dorset, vol V, p 94-97, no. 4. Newman, J and Pevsner, N. The Buildings of England: Dorset, 1972, p 471-2).

Listing NGR: SU0323611591