Warleigh House

SX 46 SE BICKLEIGH WARLEIGH 4/19 29-3-60 Warleigh House GV II*

Country house in use as a nursing home; former seat of the Radcliffes. C16 with earlier stone vaulted cellars under north wing, and refashioned by John Foulston in 1825 to 32 when north-west wing was built. Stone now roughcast with ashlaring. Slate gabled roof. E-shaped on plan with further wings to north and north-west. Two and a half storeys 1:2:1:2:1 bays. Flanking one bay wings and central 3-storeyed porch all gabled. Early C19 sash windows with Gothick square hoodmoulds. Central large moulded granite 4-centred arch doorway with carved spandrels and arms in relief in the tympanum. The inner door also moulded granite with carved spandrels. Moulded lead rainwater heads, downpipes and gutter. Circa 1825-32 north-west wing at rear with embattled parapets and Gothick windows. Long 2-storey, 6-bay rear wing across north side with C16 two and 3-light granite mullion windows with 4-centred arch lights and hoodmoulds, and with moulded granite doorways with carved spandrels. At the east end of this wing is the chapel with C19 Perpendicular traceried window in gable end. Interior: Retains 2-storeyed hall, with wide moulded granite fireplace, but remodelled in C18 with moulded plaster frieze and cornice and wooden balustrade to gallery. Two moulded granite 4-centred arch doorways to screens passage. Wide C18 dogleg staircase from hall with moulded string balusters, moulded handrail ramped up to square newels and fielded panel dado. Staircase well light by circular lantern and with modillion cornice. North-west room has Gothick marble chimneypiece and Gothick cornice. Library in south-east wing has bolection moulded panelling, plaster cornice breaks forward over chimney breast with early C19 chimney piece. Kitchen wing on north-east side has very wide moulded 4-centred arch fireplaces and service doorways, one with old nail-studded door. Reference: Colvin, Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, pages 318 and 319.

Listing NGR: SX4585561783