Vane Towers Villa Lugano

TORQUAY

SX9263 VANEHILL ROAD 885-1/18/294 (South East side) 10/01/75 Vane Towers and Villa Lugano (Formerly Listed as: VANE HILL ROAD Vane Towers, Little Maderia and Villa Lugano)

GV II

Villa, divided into three. c1870. Snecked local grey limestone; Roman tile roof; stacks with elaborate brick shafts with corbelled cornices and round-headed flue dividers. PLAN: Irregular plan with main pedestrian entrance on the NW side and tower at eastern corner. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and attic with 3-stage tower. Asymmetrical 4-window front (one to the tower to the right). Very deep eaves with moulded rafter ends. Polychromatic banding of relief tiles and stone; windows with elaborate architraves, some with keyblocks and tiled lintels. Projecting porch in centre of main block with gable treated as a pediment above a projecting cornice. Round-headed doorway with corner pilasters, an inner order of moulded tiles and a panelled front door with fanlight. Front elevation recessed above porch with a one-light window. Windows mostly glazed with high-transomed mullioned windows with square leaded panes: unfortunate window replacement to second-floor right. The tower, set back to the right, has a hipped slate roof with eaves brackets. Tower windows round-headed and arranged as pairs or singles. Other elevations continue the elaborate polychromatic Italianate style. INTERIOR: Partially inspected. One of the principal rooms retains an elaborate inglenook; other features of interest may survive. This building is prominent from many points in Torquay. It is said to have been built for the first American Ambassador to England,

Listing NGR: SX9207163233