Benton (Cheltenham and Gloucester College)

Benton, now part of Cheltenham and Gloucester College, is a villa built in 1851. It is constructed with stucco over brick, featuring a hipped slate roof with an off-centre ridge stack and an iron verandah and balconies. The exterior is two storeys with a basement and attic, displaying three first-floor windows. Stucco detailing includes quoins at the ground floor angles, a first-floor band, and pilasters at the ends of the first floor. Windows are framed with tooled architraves. A flight of roll-edged steps leads to the central entrance, which has a four-panel, part-glazed door within a porch supported by two pairs of fluted Doric pilasters, an architrave, frieze with triglyphs and metopes, a cornice with guttae and a blocking course. The sides of the porch feature glazing with margin-lights containing coloured glass. The ground floor windows are tripartite with 1/1 sashes. The first floor has 1/1 sashes, with some blind boxes remaining. Basement windows are 3/3 sashes, reflecting their original design. The right return exhibits three first-floor windows with 1/1 sashes and tall 2/2 sashes on the ground floor. The attic dormer features a casement window. The left return has a rectangular bay on the ground floor with a tripartite window and 2/2 sashes, accentuated by pilasters. The interior has not been inspected.

The front facade is adorned with ground-floor balconies, featuring an elaborate scroll and lozenge motif, and tent hoods supported by ornate brackets. A continuous verandah runs along the right return, characterized by a Carron Company double-heart-and-anthemion motif balustrade and openwork frieze, with scroll motifs on the uprights.

The Park, where Benton is situated, was originally laid out in 1833 by Thomas Billings as an oval, tree-lined drive with a central park that briefly became a zoological garden. Samuel Daukes purchased the development in 1839 and continued its building. Benton is an example of the architectural influence of White’s and Nash’s plans for Regent’s Park in London (1809-11). Originally named The Elms, the house was later occupied by Bishop T Dunn. It was acquired by St Mary’s College in 1944.