The Retreat

The Retreat is a detached house built in the late 18th century, located on Belle Vue Road in Plymstock, Hooe. The building features a rendered or stucco exterior, likely over rubble, and has a dry slate hipped roof with a modillion cornice at the front, which is slightly returned at both ends. It has large brick axial stacks and a square double-depth plan with a single-storey wing on the left. The house stands three storeys high and has a symmetrical three-window front. Notable architectural details include a plinth, mid-floor strings, rusticated quoins, and hoodmoulds with central shell motifs above the ground and first-floor windows. The original paired hornless sashes with glazing bars are intact. The central doorway is framed by fluted Ionic columns and a dentilled pediment, leading to an original panelled door.

Inside, the house retains many original features, such as a staircase with turned balusters and column newels, round-arched doorways with panelled doors, panelled window shutters, moulded ceiling cornices, and chimneypieces, one of which has an original grate. There is a segmental arch at the end of one front room and a rear room, with an entablature supported by paired Tuscan columns.