Orangery Attached To South East Of Dyrham House

The orangery, attached to the south-east of Dyrham House, was begun in 1701 by William Talman. The front roof slope was glazed around 1800 by Repton. It is constructed of limestone ashlar, with coursed freestone to the rear.

The east elevation has five bays, with the central bay projecting forward. It is flanked by heavy paired Tuscan columns, supporting round-headed double glass doors with alternately vermiculated voussoirs set on keystones. Paired Tuscan pilasters divide the outer bays to the left and right, and at each end. Each bay features a round-headed opening with a 24-pane sash window, with splayed glazing bars in the upper section, rusticated voussoirs, and large frost-work keystones. The building has a plinth, a pulvinated frieze bearing a Latin inscription in three sections ("servaremodum, finemque tueri, naturamque sequi" from Lucan's Pharsalia), a cornice, and a tall parapet incorporating paired pilasters above the ground floor columns and pilasters, with paired raised panels between. A balustrade above the parapet includes paired plinths over pilasters and four urns set on plinths, two centrally and one at each end. The urns are fluted with swags and have a moulded cornice.

The south elevation has three large 24-pane sash windows within moulded architraves and cills, with a cornice above the frieze. The central section of the balustrade above returns, while a wall ramps upwards on each side to connect to the balustrade wall to the east and a plain pier to the west. A door is set within a chamfered surround at basement level, with a string course above.

The rear elevation has five varied windows at basement level, all 2-light casements with recessed leaded lights and square mullions, along with three doors. There is a string course, coved cornice, blocking course, and upper cornice.

The interior consists of unplastered rubble walls and blocks of dressed stone replacing beams within mortices in the walls, likely remnants of a former pitched roof.