A La Ronde is a Grade I listed building in the East Devon local planning authority area, England. First listed on 6 December 1949. A C18 Cottage. 12 related planning applications.

A La Ronde

WRENN ID
solemn-cupola-jay
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
East Devon
Constituency
Exmouth and Exeter East MP: David Reed (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
6 December 1949
Type
Cottage
Period
C18
Address
A La Ronde, Summer Lane, Exmouth, EX8 5BD
OS grid reference
SY 004 833
Coordinates
50.64166, -3.40883
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: related consents · flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

A La Ronde is a Grade I listed circular stone cottage ornee built in 1798 by the Misses Jane and Mary Parminter. The design features a central octagon, which is believed to be inspired by the basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, reflecting the sisters' travels in Italy and Europe between 1784 and 1794. Surrounding the octagon are eight rooms, each connected through an ante-room. Above the octagon is a gallery, with its outer wall adorned with shell and feather designs, likely intended as an 18th-century domestic interpretation of the mosaics found in San Vitale. Access to the gallery is via a small staircase that leads through grottos decorated with shells and other materials. The interior includes notable craftwork by the Misses Parminter, such as a feather frieze in the drawing room. Originally, the cottage had a thatched roof with an octagonal gallery and a bell cupola above, but in the early 20th century, a tiled roof and dormers were added. The windows are sash style, featuring diagonal glazing bars and diamond-shaped windows in the ante-rooms.

Local climate

A La Ronde receives an average of 810 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 51% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is greater than that of 74% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 17 freeze-thaw cycles a year, fewer than 83% of listed buildings. Of these, 6 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

More on this building

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  • No EPC on record for this property
  • No sale records on file
  • Related listed building consents — 12 applications
  • Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
  • Flood risk assessment
  • Radon risk assessment
  • Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
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