Seend House

House, built circa 1805-1810 for Thomas Bruges, constructed of ashlar with low-pitched slate hipped roofs and ashlar stacks. It is a three-story building with formal north and south fronts and a square plan. The north front has six windows and a slightly projected, pedimented centre, featuring carved arms in the tympanum. The facade incorporates a plinth, channelled rusticated ground floor, a panelled plat-band, plain raised angle strips and a band to the upper floors, a modillion cornice, and a parapet. The windows are sash windows, with nine panes to the top floor and twelve panes to the main floors. Larger ground floor sashes have reeded lintel strips, a blank arch over, and are set within a large arched frame with a reeded surround. The central bay features rusticated piers, rusticated walling, and a raised arched-headed reeded surround to a six-panel door with a traceried fanlight. A projecting Greek Doric porch is present, featuring paired columns with fluted necks, an entablature with triplets of guttae. The west end wall has a three-window range, similarly detailed, with the centre broken forward slightly. Upper floor sashes are present, while the ground floor windows are blank, set within reeded arched recesses. The south front features five windows with a raised centre and angle piers, a moulded cornice that breaks forward over the piers, and reeded string courses stopped at the piers. A half-glazed door is positioned within a Roman Doric two-column porch with pilaster responds; an arched stair light sits above, breaking the string course, and a small 3:9:3-pane tripartite sash is located on the top floor. The sides of the south front have large ground floor four:twelve:four-pane tripartite windows with moulded lintels and blank segmental arches above; the first floor has twelve-pane sashes, and the upper floor has nine-pane sashes. The east end features a flat-roofed addition with a basement underneath. The interior preserves a complete Regency scheme, including mahogany doors in moulded surrounds, plaster cornices, fireplaces with original grates, and a geometrical stone staircase with moulded ends to the treads and iron rails. Unusual variations on classical detailing are found throughout. The house was originally built for T. Bruges (1751-1835), a Melksham maltster, and subsequently passed to W.H. Ludlow-Bruges (died 1855) and R.H. Ludlow-Bruges (died 1907).