Parnham House

Parnham House is a country house with a core dating to the mid-16th century, alongside a 17th-century north-west service wing, a significant refashioning and extension by Nash in 1810, and later modifications. The house is constructed of ashlar lias stone, with stone slate and lead roofs.

The east elevation features a crenellated parapet and octagonal stone chimneys with moulded cornices, grouped in twos and clusters of three by Nash at the front eaves. The house has 2½ to 3 storeys and is approximately 9 to 10 bays wide, following an irregular E-plan. The south-east gable projects furthest, displaying a 6-light canted oriel on both the ground and first floors, with a 3-light attic window above. Diagonal buttresses are a feature of Nash's work. A south-east staircase bay, one bay high, incorporates 2- and 3-light stone mullions, with the ground floor detailing by Nash; all are hollow-chamfered with 4-centred heads. The hall, now of three bays, was originally two, with 4-light transomed mullions and a continuous string course. A stone stack, at first-floor level, was inserted by Nash, topped with a gabled section and three chimneys. A projecting porch at the centre is topped by a two-storey canted oriel, gabled with Nash pinacles; the oriel itself is a 3-light window with single-light canted sides. Iron casements incorporate lead lights and tension bars. A north-east projecting staircase bay adjoins the porch, also three storeys high and featuring a single bay with 4-light mullions. A further projecting north-east gable, three and a half storeys high, has 6-light stone mullions with 4-centred heads, and a single returned label, topped by Nash pinacles. The south front was modified by Nash, with 3-light cross-transomed windows lowered, and a canted oriel added to the second bay, alongside a window with two transoms. Nash buttresses are placed between each bay, with pinnacling. The west front includes a dining room added by Nash, spanning three bays and two storeys, with cross-transomed mullions. The north-west service wing, L-shaped and two storeys high, has a crenellated parapet and was refenestrated by Nash.

The interior features a Great Hall containing a screen dating back to around 1600, with three ranges of panels finished with a moulded and embattled cornice. The doorway includes jamb shafts and a 4-centred head. The fireplace is 20th century but incorporates material from a 15th-century screen. The east windows contain eight mid-16th century shields-of-arms. The south-east staircase is from the early 17th century, and has been rearranged with enriched square newels, pierced finials, turned balusters, and a moulded handrail. An upper landing spans the full width of the stairwell. The north-east staircase dates to the early 18th century and has walls lined with 17th-century panelling. Within the Oak Room is linen-fold panelling, potentially originating from West Hawsley Place. The windows feature a series of seven Dutch roundels with heraldry and figure subjects, primarily from the mid-17th century. The dining room has a 4-centred stone fireplace with strapwork above the mantel and a rubbed cornice. C20 plasterwork, in a 17th-century style, was inserted by Hans Sauer. Throughout the house are examples of re-set panelling and fireplaces, dating to the 17th century. C18 door surrounds exist in the Drawing Room and Library, alongside C20 plasterwork ceilings, also inserted by Sauer.