Marley House

Marley House is a large country house, originally occupied by a community of Bridgettine nuns and later converted into apartments in 1994. The core of the building dates to the 18th century, with significant remodelling in the early 19th century, alterations in 1873, and extensions added in 1935. The house is constructed of stuccoed and roughcast stone, with a slate hipped roof concealed behind a blocking course and cornice. Rusticated corner pilasters are present, and a band runs along the first-floor level. The building is square in plan.

The west entrance front has two storeys and a basement, with nine bays. It features sash windows with glazing bars set within moulded architraves and moulded cills. The central doorway is framed by a moulded architrave surmounted by a broken segmental pediment supported by console brackets, and incorporates fielded panel doors. A large Doric portico with a pediment and fluted giant columns provides a grand entrance.

The south garden front has a 2:5:2 bay arrangement, with the central section projecting slightly. The east front displays a 3:11:3 bay arrangement with the central section recessed. Both the south and east garden fronts have an arcaded terrace to the basement, featuring a balustrade dated 1873. Wings were added to the south-west and north-west corners in 1935.

Inside, the hall features an Ionic colonnade and a moulded modillion cornice. A cantilevered staircase has stack balusters and a wreathed handrail. The dining room is characterised by an elaborate plaster cornice and ceiling rose, and doorframes surmounted by door panels decorated with urns. Similar doorframes are found in the panelled drawing room.

The Bridgettine nuns who resided here formed the only English monastic community to maintain an unbroken succession of nuns from before the Reformation. The community originated at Isleworth (Middlesea) in 1415, was dispersed during the Dissolution, and relocated to various locations on the Continent before establishing themselves in Spettisbury, Dorset, in 1861. The house preserves carved stone capitals, remnants of the original Syon Abbey.