Lackham House

Lackham House, now an agricultural college, was built between 1791 and 1796 for James Montagu. It is constructed of ashlar with low-pitched slate roofs and ashlar end stacks. The house is a formal, three-storey, Palladian-style mansion with a square plan, complemented by low, parallel wings on either side, linked to the main range by screen walls.

The front, designed for a garden setting, has a 2-3-2 window arrangement, with a slightly projected pedimented centre and balustraded parapets on either side. The ground floor, possibly altered, features tall French windows and a high, eight-column Roman Doric loggia with a balustraded balcony. The first floor has sash windows within architraves, featuring a moulded sill course, moulded band above, and casements in square openings. An ornate modillion cornice tops the facade. The rear, or entrance, facade is simpler, with a 2-2-2 window arrangement, using square rubble stone up to the attic level, which is ashlar faced. A moulded cornice and parapet complete the rear elevation. A boldly detailed, free Baroque-style enclosed porch was added around 1900, featuring blocked columns and pilasters, a deep semi-circular hood, and Arts and Crafts-style iron lamps. The link walls connecting the main fronts have moulded cornices and balustrades.

The parallel wings have decorative pavilions on their end walls, with three-bay fronts. The central bays project forward, topped with pediments applied against pedimental gables, while the side bays are finished with parapets. The ground floor features tripartite windows with 12-pane sashes. The first floor has a sill course running under a central lunette, with an oval light in the side bays. An east-facing elevation of the east wing displays a plain two-storey design with two-light beaded mullion windows. The west wing incorporates a former coach-house and stable, with a projecting pedimented centre over two blocked coach entries, and a ridge cupola. Attractive pedimented dormers, likely dating from around 1900, are present on both sides of the house.

The interior includes extensive fielded panelling in the hall and spine corridors. A northwest ground floor room displays Adam-style decoration and a fine plastered ceiling. An open-well staircase features turned balusters and a panelled dado. Original panelled doors remain throughout. A billiard room within the west service court has a top-lit coved ceiling and Arts and Crafts-style plasterwork with vine tendril motifs, dating from around 1900. Lackham had been owned by the Baynard family from the 14th century until 1636, when it passed to the Montagu family. The original medieval house was demolished by James Montagu V in 1791. Alterations undertaken around 1900 were carried out for G.L. Palmer.