Portway House

Portway House is a substantial building, rebuilt in 1722 by Edward Middlecott, a wealthy clothier. It served as a dower house to Longleat from 1820 to 1920 and was more recently used as headquarters for the Urban District Council. The main body of the house is constructed of Bath stone ashlar, with a basement and three storeys, flanked by two-storey wings. The central section has seven bays, while the wings each have three. The building is set well back from the road.

The front features a moulded plinth, moulded strings above the ground and first-floor windows, and a moulded cornice broken over the end caps and pilasters framing the central bay. A low parapet has moulded coping and ball finials; a small lead panel in the centre displays the initials "M.E.M." and the date 1722. The windows are glazing bar sash windows with moulded architraves, cills and deep aprons resting on strings across the front. Angle pilasters are present at each floor level, with panelled and moulded plinths. The first and second-floor centre window is framed by fluted pilasters with unfinished capping and a broken pediment above the first-floor window. A central doorway has been replaced by a large, angular bay of three lights in a matching style, with angle pilasters. Flanking this bay are basement windows, two on each side, with railings on the left. The original doorpiece has been moved to a recessed linking bay connecting to the left-hand wing, incorporating panelled Doric pilasters with carved enrichment, a necking, and a segmental pediment over an entablature; steps lead up to it, with base piers having large ball finials with scalloped bases.

The two-storey wings, which are slightly recessed and in a matching style, were likely built in the late 18th century, although they are said to date from around 1760. The left-hand wing has a recessed link for the entrance. A single-storey extension to the west has two bays and a further doorway, with a flat hood of semi-circular plan (at No. 31). The west front presents a more balanced, simplified composition, with a central ten-panel door and a simple segmental pediment.

A terrace extends in front, with steps at the east end framed by ashlar piers with moulded caps and carved stone vases. The interior retains some panelled rooms and at least two good contemporary marble fireplaces, one in the former dining room featuring a shell niche cupboard. The original staircase is a notable feature, with three turned balusters to each tread, fluted newel posts, a ramped moulded rail, a panelled and inlaid dado, cut strings with enriched ends, and moulded undersides to the steps; a stair branches at the landing below the first floor. A panelled annexe is located to the south-east of the hall, with a fluted prize. A vaulted basement is also present.