Langley House

LANGLEY BURRELL SWINDON ROAD ST 97 NW WITHOUT (east side)

8/175 Langley House

20.12.60

GV IT*

Country house, 1780 for R. Ashe, squared rubble stone with white lime joints, ashlar dressings, hipped stone slate roof and ashlar stacks. Three storeys, square plan with formal 5-window west front and 6-window south front. Ashlar plinth, band, moulded cornice, parapet and rusticated quoins. Sash windows in ashlar architraves, 12-pane to main floors and 9-pane to upper floor, shutters to main floor windows on west front and ground floor of south front. West front has central 8-panel door in Roman Doric pedimented doorcase. East side has similar one-window range to left and two-window range to right and two large central stair-lights. Steps down to basement door. North side has similar one-window range, facing north, then set-back section with one-window range facing west. Attached to north is lower kitchen range with hipped valley roof and long north side windows. Running east from east end of kitchens is low L-plan single storey and attic range with ridge stack, cyma-moulded flush mullion windows and various depressed- arched openings. This, with a high coped wall running east to stable block (q.v.) encloses the rear service court. Wall has blocked large arched opening adjoining house and continues some 32m east. Interior: apparently little altered with original moulded plaster cornices, panelling to south west dining room, dado-panelling to south east drawing room and fielded panelled doors. Entrance hall has 2-arched screen across end to 2-bay plaster-vaulted cross- passage with stair-hall beyond. Staircase has moulded brackets, turned balusters and moulded rail. Langley estate was bought by Henry White of Grittleton 1601, sold c1655 to Samuel Ashe, clothier of Freshford and has been held by the Ashe family since. The house is much associated with the Rev Francis Kilvert, whose father was appointed rector of Langley Burrell by Robert Ashe, a cousin of Mrs. Kilvert, in 1855.

Listing NGR: ST9286275785