A La Ronde

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.