Dower House

The Dower House, originally built between 1796 and 1816 by James Wyatt as a dairy and bath house, stands within Dodington Park. It is a building of group value. The house is constructed of limestone ashlar, with rubble to the rear and a right wing, and brick. Slate roofs cover the main section, while the portico has a copper roof. The design follows a cruciform plan in a classical style.

The facade has a 1:3:1 window arrangement, with the central three bays projecting forward and featuring a circular Roman Doric portico with fluted columns and no base. Four engaged columns are present at the rear, and a 20th-century panelled and glass door occupies the centre of the front. The frieze and cornice continue around the ground floor front, terminating in a blocking course at the sides of the portico. Flanking the portico are round-headed sashes with splayed glazing bars within a moulded architrave and cill. The first floor is set back, featuring a recessed panel with a four-pane sash and moulded surround, with pilasters on either side, topped by an entablature and pediment. Further sashes on either side have a flush keystone, and the cornice continues around the front. The left return of the front block displays a sash at both ground and first floor levels. A bow window extends from the right return at ground floor, with three sashes, a cornice, and blocking course. The first floor has a sash and a fixed light with twelve panes. A wing attached to the left has a central recess with pilasters, a sash with a fanlight, and a cornice and parapet. The first floor is set back and includes a central sash with side lights; a fine beaded string course, cornice, and parapet continue from the central bays. The right wing, constructed in snecked rubble with long and short quoins, incorporates a large pair of sashes at ground floor and a sash with a flush keystone at first floor. Its right return exhibits a first-floor sash. The rear wing’s north elevation features two round-headed recesses with voussoirs, now containing 20th-century windows and a door to the right. The first floor has three windows, the central one blind, with six-pane sashes to each side. The rear wing is attached to the rear of the Stables.

Inside, the entrance hall has an oval ceiling with a moulded frieze and cornice, open to elliptical panelled rooms on either side. These rooms contain bolection-moulded stone fireplaces, matching friezes, cornices, dado rails, and window shutters. The front window in each room features a deep splayed reveal with coloured marble cills. Historically, one room was used for butter-making and another for Roman-style bathing.