Farnley Lodge (Ymca)

Farnley Lodge, now a club, is a villa built around 1824-1828 with later additions and alterations, including a range added in the 1890s. It is likely designed by JB Papworth. The building features ashlar over brick with a concealed roof and end and off-centre right stucco ridge stacks.

The exterior is two storeys high with three first-floor windows. It has a double depth plan with a central hallway, and the centre is slightly recessed. The outer bays have first-floor bands, with 6/6 sash windows on the first floor. The ground floor features outer tripartite windows with replacement 1/1 sashes and segmental-arched recesses above, all in plain reveals with sills. The first-floor windows have Venetian blinds and blind boxes. The central entrance has C20 French windows, and the main entrance is now located in the range on the right.

Inside, the building has been remodelled but retains much original joinery, including panelled doors and enriched plaster cornicing.

Historically, JB Papworth came to Cheltenham in 1824 at the invitation of Dr. Schoolbred, for whom he designed Rosehill, which has since been greatly altered. Farnley Lodge is significant for its close similarities to the designs of Rosehill and is shown and named on Merrett's Map of 1834. It was noted by Verey to have had a pleasant detached tetrastyle Ionic portico, which is now missing. The building was undergoing renovations and restorations at the time of review.