Wilbury House

NEWTON TONY - SU 24 SW 2/92 Wilbury House 10.1.53 I

Large house, c1710/12-1725 by William Benson, possibly with assistance from Colen Campbell, and probably on site of earlier house built by Nathaniel Fiennes, the home of Celia Fiennes. Roman cement with rusticated stone basement and quoins, slate roof. Plan derived from Palladio's Pojana Maggiore, with axial hall and saloon at right angles containing north entrance, and flanked by stairs. Bedrooms and withdrawing rooms in angles. Main south elevation design based on Webb's Amesbury Abbey (1661) modified by influence of Inigo Jones. Original design published in Vitruvius Britannicus, probably modified during construction, now two storeys over basement, 7 bays, the central three with large Corinithian tetrastyle portico with perron stair of Malcontenta type. Tripartite south door of c1770 alterations with entablature and long consoles. Fifteen-paned sashes, 22-paned to upper floor, all with moulded architraves. Frieze full length, fluted, interspersed with paterae. Cornice and low parapet with 6 waisted urns. Elevation extended both ends c1760 with half-octagonal single storey bays on raised basement, and balustraded parapets. North elevation has 8 window bays, with rusticated quoins, the centre 4 bays broken forward and with loggia porch on 4 Ionic columns and central pair of glazed doors with fanlights. Fifteen-paned sashes to ground floor, 12-pane above, all with moulded architraves. Arms at centre at first floor level. Service wing on north-east side. West room has bow window with sliding shutters on west elevation. Interior: An outstanding period interior of early C18, improved by Henry Hoare c1731-40, and plasterwork for Fulke Greville after c1742, and minor alterations c1770. Hall, entered axially, panelled walls with Greek fret frieze and central door to saloon with broken pediment, and matching side niches. Ceiling with central oval feature and border. Saloon, proportion 3:4, has richly moulded doorcases, moulded frames and niches, with applied plasterwork including busts of Roman emperors in roundels. Entablature and coved ceiling with illusionary coffering. Scagliola floor. Chimney piece with mantel on consoles. Relief plaster dolphin scene over. Red drawing room in south-east corner, has panelled walls, cornice, timber fire surround with marble slips. Wing room, once a chapel, has moulded relief by Burne Jones over window. Benson, whose deeds of conveyance were witnessed by Celia Fiennes, disposed of the house to Henry Hoare II in 1734, who then sold to Fulke Greville in,1742. (Campbell: Vitruvius Britannicus; Country Life, January 23 1932, and 3rd and 10th December, 1969. RCHM Survey notes. Stutchbury, H.E., The Architecture of Colen Campbell (1967); Pevsner, Buildings of England (Wiltshire); Interiors, May 1986)

Listing NGR: SU2216841396