Charlton House The Downs School

ST 47 SE WRAXALL CHARLTON DRIVE

3/178 Charlton House (The Downs School) 15.lO.52 - II

Small country house, presently a school. Probably late mediaeval, altered early - mid C17, and extended c.1877-84. Rendered; slate roof behind coped parapet; ashlar stacks. Irregular U-plan building of 3 storeys. The central section has 3 windows on the ground floor and 5 on the first: two 5-light cross windows to the right (the Hall) with ovolo moulded king mullions and surrounds; 2- and 3-light casements elsewhere, all under dripmoulds. 2 storey gabled porch to left; C19 door and moulded surround. Projecting wings to either side, each surmounted by curvilinear gables with ball finials: 2 storey, square bay window of 5-lights to right wing; slightly projecting 3 storey bay to left, 5-light cross window on ground floor and 3-light window on first, all C19 with ovolo moulded mullions and surrounds. Drainpipe hopper on the right (west) wing is dated 1883. Further 2 bay extension to west: lateral stack; 3- and 2-light cross windows with ovolo moulded mullions and casements. Interior. Mostly C19 but retaining a screens passage with the hall to the left. The hall fireplace is early C17: stone; moulded and gadrooned surround; clustered colonnettes to each side with termini caryatids, enriched frieze and moulded cornice; large overmantel with draped figures of kings and women (Charity and Justice) with full armorial bearings. One east internal window is said to have an early C16 2-light window with arched lights. (N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol, 1958).

Listing NGR: ST4939373680