The Old House

1. 865 THE CLOSE The Old House ST 8806 1/8 27.10.50.

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1. This house is something of a curiosity and the fact that it was one of the few houses to escape the fire of 1731 gives it an additional interest. It was built about the middle of the C17 by Dr Sagittary - a native of the Palatinate, who held English medical degrees and practised in Blandford. This origin may explain its Germanic character. Dr Sagittary died in 1696. L-shaped 2-storey red brick house with projecting porch wing at front. The roof, the lower part of which has stone slates, is hipped and steeply pitched. Lead flat to porch wing. The wide eaves soffit is supported on heavy shaped brackets of oak. Hipped dormers. The 2 chinmeys are octagonal on square bases and each has 8 circular attached shafts with moulded brick bases and cappings. The Eastern part of the house is of rusticated brickwork and there is a moulded brick eaves cornice. Over the round-headed doorway, which has rusticated brick voussoirs, there are designs in cut brickwork and a moulded niche. All this work is said to have been done in situ. Windows are leaded casements with moulded oak frames and mullions, Those to East part of house having transoms also. There was formerly a contemporary staircase and other carved woodwork internally, but these were removed to Scot;and, where they were destroyed by fire.

Listing NGR: ST8868006416