Donhead Hall With Attached Walls And Terraces

DONHEAD ST. MARY WATERY LANE ST 92 SW (off west side)

7/69 Donhead Hall with attached walls and terraces 6.1.66 GV II*

Country house. Early C18. Limestone ashlar, Welsh slate hipped roof, rendered stacks. Two storeys and attic over basement, 7- window east front. Centre three bays project with quadrants, central French windows up steps in moulded architrave with pediment on consoles, curved bay either side has 12-pane sash in Gibbs surround, two flanking bays have Gibbs surrounds with to left plate glass fixed windows and, two 12-pane sashes to right. Basement with banded rustication and small 9-pane sashes with keystones. First floor has three 2-light casements to centre, two plate glass sashes either side, all in Gibbs surrounds. Corner pilasters with block rustication to plain frieze and eaves cornice, centre bay has raised attic with volutes to pediment with oculus. Left return has 5 French windows with louvred shutters to terrace with iron railings, first floor has five 9-pane sashes in Gibbs surrounds, 3 pedimented dormers with 2-light casements to roof. Right return has 2-storey, 3-bay projecting entrance hall, probably early C19, porch with large round-arched doorway with double panelled doors and fanlight, glazed hipped roof with griffins to cornice, three 9- pane sashes with keystones to first floor, flanked by plain pilasters to pediment with oculus, main range has 9-pane sash either side to first floor and 6-panelled door to right, attic dormers. Rear has 2-light leaded casement to basement, 12-pane sashes to ground floor and 9-pane sashes to first floor. Interior largely inaccessible at time of survey (November 1985), but central stairs have three turned balusters to tread, ramped and wreathed handrail, carved tread ends, top-lit with plain glazed panel. Good doors with 6 fielded panels in moulded architraves, egg and dart and dentilled ceiling cornices. Main reception rooms have fine raised and fielded panelling and pilasters, central room on east front has double apsidal ends and rococo plaster ceiling, C18 fireplaces. Attached to left of front is good stone wall with pitched coping and arched gateway with C19 spearhead gates, pier to left with griffin. Attached to rear right is C19 raised terrace and steps over semi-circular arches, with iron balusters and chain links. House occupies elevated position overlooking deer park. Owned by Sir Godfrey Kneller (1646-1723) during early C18 and by Wyndham family during C19. (N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Wiltshire, 1975)

Listing NGR: ST9047423764