Crowdown

GRITTLETON EAST FOSCOTE

ST 87 NE

7/5 Crowdown

II

Estate cottage of Grittleton estate, c1840 by J. Thomson for Joseph Neeld. Rubble stone with squared ashlar block to south front, stone slate eaves roof. 1½ storeys. South front has exceedingly tall and thin 5-stage ashlar octagonal tower at south west angle with moulded plinth and dripcourses with uncarved bosses at angles. Top stage has arcading with column shafts, with windows on cardinal faces, blank elsewhere and corbelled parapet. House is T-plan with tower at south west angle of west wing which has hipped roof and 2- shaft rear stack. Front has single light in eaves-breaking dormer gable over door in depressed-arched surround set in broad ashlar porch between tower and gabled south end of main range. Stepped parapet with shield over moulded depressed-arched entry. Stone seats within. Moulded plinth and string course. South end of main range has ground-floor 3-light canted ashlar bay with stone roof and first floor single light. Two-window east side has 4-shaft ridge stack, rubble stone walls and plain mullion windows, the upper windows under eaves breaking dormers. Door at right end in gabled stone porch. Tower, similar to but taller than the one at Fosse Lodge (q.v.) is variously said to have been an observation tower for following the hunt and a telegraph tower.

Listing NGR: ST8749279804