Bowood House

Bowood House is a Grade I listed country house built in two phases for the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne. The original service courts and orangery were constructed between 1755 and 1761 by architect H. Keene, with subsequent additions made between 1768 and 1774 by Robert Adam. The main house was demolished in 1955, and these service buildings were converted to the principal residence between 1955 and 1957 by F.S. Samuels. The structure is constructed in ashlar with slate roofs.

The house is arranged in an E-plan configuration. Keene's service courts consist of two storeys with four raised pavilions at the angles. Adam's contribution was the addition of a single-storey orangery range across the south, known as the Diocletian Wing. A section of the centre arm of Keene's courts was remodelled as a chapel between 1822 and 1824 by C.R. Cockerell, crowned with a prominent stone lantern on the ridge that was added in 1860 by Sir Charles Barry.

The south front is the most impressive elevation. It is framed by Keene's pyramid-roofed pavilions, which feature three-window compositions with modillion pediments applied against an attic storey, a plain attic cornice and parapet. The centre openings have architraves, and the ground floor centre has pediments on consoles. Adam's orangery range extends between the pavilions in a sequence of 4-1-4-1-4-1-4 bays. The centre has a high pedimented projecting section with paired columns flanking a tall arched doorway and a carved eagle on the apex block. Glazed doors with panelled piers and side lights are surmounted by a large radiating-bar fanlight. A fluted frieze with paterae embellishes this section. The wings feature centre pavilions with similar attached columns, cornice and flat parapet, with recessed arches containing paterae in the spandrels framing a circular light above a plain doorway. Four bays on each side of the centres have an attached Roman Doric colonnade and balustrade above, with moulded arched openings. The orangery bays flanking the main portico are fully glazed, whilst the outer bays have recessed arched glazing-bar windows. This south front represents a major work in the development of Adam's mature style, notably incorporating neo-classical elements such as composite capitals derived from Diocletian's palace at Spalato.

The east front, designed by Keene, spans 3-7-3 bays and is similarly framed by pavilions. The centre section rises to two storeys with a modillion cornice and arched ground floor openings. The centre openings of the pavilions and main range have moulded architraves, whilst ground floor openings are topped with pediments. Tall ashlar chimneys punctuate this elevation. The inner courts contain comparable cornices, with 4-3-4 bay pedimented rear ranges and 7-bay side ranges. Various arched ground floor openings and lunettes divide these ranges, separated by applied pilasters. The centre range's south end was altered to accommodate three long arched lights for the chapel. Barry's stone lantern at the north end of the chapel sits on a rusticated plinth with a moulded base incorporating clock faces, an open arched cupola with attached columns, a cornice, finials above the columns and a slated square dome.

The west front is a plainer version of the east front with flanking pavilions. The north front is constructed in rubble stone and has a stone conservatory of 1899 attached to the north of the north-east pavilion, with a verandah on Roman Doric columns to its right. Reset ornate iron gates from around 1851, originally from the forecourt of the demolished main house, are attached to this elevation.

The interior of the Adam orangery features plastered vaults and Ionic screens flanking a centre entry. A fine Greek revival doorcase with bronzed doors leads to the chapel. Beyond the orangery to the east lies the Laboratory where J. Priestley, serving as librarian and tutor at Bowood from 1773 to 1780, discovered oxygen gas in 1774, and where Dr Jan Ingenhousz (1730-99) discovered plant photosynthesis in 1779. The east end of Adam's range contains a fine Library designed by C.R. Cockerell. The chapel, also designed by Cockerell, has a severe Greek revival interior with coffered ceilings. The reredos is an 18th-century former organ case that was installed in 1899.

Bowood was a notable political and literary centre in the 18th and 19th centuries. The 1st Marquess (1737-1805) served as Prime Minister from 1782 to 1783 and was a friend of Johnson, Goldsmith, Hume and Franklin. The 3rd Marquess (1780-1863) was a leading Whig politician, anti-slaver and promoter of Catholic Emancipation, and a friend of T. Moore and Lord Macaulay. The 5th Marquess (1845-1927) was a Liberal politician who served as Governor General of Canada from 1883 to 1888, Viceroy of India from 1888 to 1894, Foreign Secretary from 1900 to 1905, and led the Liberal Unionists against Irish home rule.