Rendcomb College

Rendcomb College is a country house, formerly Rendcomb Park, built between 1863 and 1865 by architect P.C. Hardwick for Sir F.H. Goldsmid. The building is constructed in the Italianate style and now serves as a school. The service wing was altered in the 20th century.

The house is built in ashlar with a slate roof and ashlar chimney stacks. It follows a basically rectangular plan with a service wing arranged around a courtyard at the north-west corner. The main body rises three storeys with some single-storey subsidiary rooms, while the service wing is two storeys.

The south-facing entrance front features a distinctive composition of 3:3:tower:1 windows, with a single-storey billiards room at the far right. The main body displays horizontal rustication with four-pane sash windows to the ground and first floors. A canted bay at the far left combines alternate plain and punched rustication. A frieze with Greek key pattern and balustrade runs across the front. The first floor windows are framed with moulded architraves and crowned with alternate triangular and segmental pediments, separated by paired Ionic pilasters. The second floor has segmental-headed two-pane sashes with shouldered architraves and moulded keystones flanked by foliate scrollwork, with short paired fluted pilasters flanking hanging flower motifs.

A striking five-storey tower punctuates the composition, featuring rusticated quoins and a porte cochere with Greek key pattern frieze and stone balustrade. At the base is a double part-glazed doorway with bay leaf surround. French windows open onto the roof of the porch, which features a tympanum bearing the Goldsmid monogram and foliate decoration. The second floor fenestration matches the main house, while the third stage is lit by three two-pane sashes beneath a Greek key pattern frieze. The upper stage contains three cross-mullioned windows flanked by engaged Corinthian columns, with tympanums above each bearing lunette motifs and moulded keystones.

The symmetrical west front features a central rectangular two-storey bay flanked by single bays with two-pane sashes bearing triangular pediments at first floor level. Three-light two-storey canted bays set slightly forward occupy the right and left sides, with festoons adorning the first floor windows. Double part-glazed doors frame the central rectangular bay within moulded architraves with foliate inner moulding, flanked by tall panels with foliate motifs. A hood supported on moulded brackets surmounts the doorway, itself topped by a festoon.

The symmetrical north front matches the fenestration of the south front. A cast iron conservatory projects forward to the left, with a small octagonal game larder positioned to its east. The roofs are hipped, and the chimney stacks are capped with features designed to resemble triangular pediments, with segmental stones dividing the flues. The shafts are decorated with paterae and palm-like motifs.

The interior contains an octagonal hall housing a large marble statue of Saul inscribed 'W. S.S. ROMA 1865.' Stained glass on two sides of the hall displays ivy and oak leaf motifs incorporating monograms of F.H. Goldsmid and his wife. A red marble fireplace retains its original grate.

A grand cantilevered stone staircase with cast iron balustrading dominates the space. The staircase is lit by stained glass designed by Hardwick, illustrating Aesop's fables and incorporating the monograms of Francis and Lily Goldsmid, their coat of arms, and the motto 'CORDCORDIA ET SEDULITATE'. The stair light features wrought iron decoration.

The library features a plastered finish with a 17th-century style panelled ceiling and pink marble fireplace with mannerist style surround.

The drawing room is decorated in the style of Robert Adam, with a decorative plastered ceiling, frieze, and panelled walls with pilasters decorated with arabesque motifs. A white marble fireplace retains its original grate and splayed white inner surround with gold decoration, while the outer white marble features foliate decoration and monogram. Windows are shuttered with moulded architraves bearing medallions. A stage now partially blocks access to the music room.

The music room and dining room are now combined, with moulded plaster ceilings. Original doors throughout feature sunken panels and egg and dart mouldings, with parquet floors bearing decorative margins. The billiards room fireplace and panelling have been removed.