Bydown House

Country house, dating from the early 19th century and built in a Neo-classical style. The architect is not known. The house is constructed of painted stucco with slate roofs having pronounced eaves. Its rectangular plan is organized around a wide entrance hall containing a staircase, with principal rooms on each side. There is a short, projecting three-story east wing and a service wing extending eastwards to the rear.

The main range has symmetrical south and west fronts. The south front features three bays, with twin clasping pilasters at the corners and a massive entablature above. A central, pedimented bay projects slightly, and the pediment is supported by pilasters and engaged columns of the Ionic order. The central sash window above the doorway is flanked by partly glazed door with six large panes, four panes to the overlight, and sidelights with three panes above panelled bases. Bays to either side contain tripartite sashes; the centre has 6 over 6 panes, while the sidelights have 4 panes. Ground floor openings are topped with pediments resting on moulded consoles, and all openings are framed with a Greek key motif. The entablature continues around the west front, which has a 1:3:1 bay arrangement, with the three central bays pedimented and flanked by four engaged Ionic columns. The outer bays have tripartite sashes, and the central sashes are 12-paned. A central French window with margin glazing bars is flanked by sashes with eared architraves; the bay to the left has a sash with 6 over 9 panes and 2 over 3 paned sidelights, while the bay to the right has a French window. Consoles support pediments above the ground floor openings. The east wing is a squat three-story tower with a tent roof; the upper-floor windows are set within tall, semicircular arched surrounds, with pointed arches to the top-story windows. A small, reset plaque displaying a shield with the date and name “1759, J Nott” is located between the lower-story windows.

The interior of the principal rooms on the west side and the entrance hall feature good Classical details, including richly moulded cornices, chimneypieces, pedimented doorcases with acroteria anthemion, and panelled doors. A fine geometrical staircase has an oval stairwell light and a moulded string and wreathed handrail with turned balusters. The entrance hall has cross-vaulted ceilings with a foliated plaster centrepiece supported by Ionic columns.