Lydiard Park

CHURCH LANE, SU 18 SW SWINDON West Swindon 3/42 Lydiard Park 17.1.55 GV I

Mansion. Medieval, C17 and 1745-9 (date stone in attic), last remodelling attributed to Roger Morris (C. Hussey) for John, 2nd Viscount St. John. Stone, ashlar Bath stone for remodelling, stone slate and lead roofs Inferred late medieval building of hall and cross wings. In C17 cross wings extended to H-plan. Mid C18 remodelling confined to south and east fronts, forming central hall and interconnecting state rooms, library, dining and drawing rooms. Main stair to rear of hall in earlier structure. Facade strictly Palladian, based on Houghton Hall. 2-storey with 3-storey quoined corner towers. 11 bays, centre 3 broken forward with pediment rising through roof balustrade and containing St. John arms and motto SANCTUS IN TERRA BEATUS IN COELO. Central doorcase Roman Doric, pedimented with pair of glazed doors and lobed fanlight. 16-pane sashes to ground floor, 9-pane above, all restored. Ground floor windows with pediment. 3rd and 9th windows with flat cornice. East elevation 7 bays, window corniced only at centre. Interior: 7 state rooms, all of highest quality, 6 panel doors in broken and lugged doorcases with carved pulvinated frieze and plaster ceilings throughout. Flying stair to rear of hall, 3 twisted balusters to each step. First floor rooms with dentilled cornices only. Left Ante-room: dentilled cornice. Painted marbled fireplace. Open pedimented overmantel. Library: Original bookcases, broke forward, with broken pediments and busts. Open pedimented fireplace, marble with coloured marble columns and frieze. Geometric panelled plaster ceiling. Hall: Coved ceiling. Dentilled cornice. Limestone chimneypiece of tapered pilasters with masks. Dining Room: Recess divided by Ionic columns. Rococo ceiling. Garlanded overmantle with broken pediment. Parlour: Rectangular panelled plaster ceiling, joists carved with fruit. Kentian carved Carrara marble fireplace with herm in-profile supporters. Mirrors. Ballroom: Recessed divided by Corinthian columns. Rococo ceiling. Dentilled cornice. Marble fireplace with wood overmantle, Corinthian pilasters and broken pediment with basket of flowers. Ante-room: Coffered apse. Plaster ceiling. Small marble fireplace. C17 painted glass in apse window, probably by Abraham van Linge. (Official Guide by Thamesdown Corporation. C. Hussey; Country Life, 19-20. Mar 1948; M. Archer: The Painted Glass of Lydiard Tregoze ). Plan in NMR. BB70, 6956.

Listing NGR: SU1038284736