Rowdeford School

ST 96 SE BROMHAM DEVIZES ROAD (east side)

4/17 Rowdeford School

19.3.62 II

Country House, built 1812 for W. Locke M.P., ashlar with slate low- pitched roofs and ashlar stacks. Two storey main elevations, 3- storey painted brick service range. Five window formal front, the centre bay slightly recessed, the 2-bay sides framed by Ionic pilasters. Raised plinth, panelled band to each side, moulded cornice, set back at centre, and parapet. Sides have unmoulded window frames with 12-pane sashes above, plate-glass 4-pane sashes below. Centre has first floor 12-pane sash in enriched architrave with swags in frieze and cornice on console brackets. Centre 8- panel door in reeded frame with sidelights and large traceried fanlight over. Semi-circular ashlar porch on 2 pairs of Ionic columns with pilaster responds. Entablature with panelled frieze. Five-bay orangery to right, the centre 3 advanced and with Ionic pilasters. Timber cornice. Margin-lights to windows and centre glazed door. Broad 3-bay side has similar detail, recessed centre with ground floor corniced tripartite window, 12-pane above, wings with Ionic pilasters, 12-pane upper windows, French window to ground floor left, blind window to right. Interior: entrance hall with plaster frieze and fluted surrounds to doorcases each side. Two Ionic columns to rear, screening stair-hall. Open well staircase with thin iron lyre-motif balustrade. Circular top lantern. Matching Ionic columns to first floor landing. Rooms to ground floor left and right have plaster cornices and friezes. House is said to have been built for Wadham Locke M.P., died 1835, and passed to F.A.S. Locke, died 1885, but apparently owned or occupied c1815 by Thomas Wyatt (died 1820), c1818 by his son Matthew (died 1831), father of the eminent architects Thomas Henry Wyatt (1807-80) and Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (1820-77). Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt was born at Rowde. (J.M. Robinson, The Wyatts, An Architectural Dynasty, 1979 201; N. Pevsner, Wiltshire, 1975)

Listing NGR: ST9771263340