The Hill

The Hill is a large house situated in Hartpury, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, with alterations in the 19th century. The house is predominantly timber-framed with white painted panels, set upon a brick plinth; one cross wing is rendered. The roof is tiled to the front and uses a mixture of natural and artificial stone slates at the rear.

The house has an irregular H-shaped plan. The main front features a rendered gable of the cross wing on the right, with a four-light mullion and transom window on the ground floor and a three-light mullioned window above. To the left is a gabled stair projection with close-studded timber framing on the ground floor and square panelling, three panels high, above. A jowelled main post is present on the left side, short of the corner. A two-light mullion and transom window is positioned at mid-floor level, with a similar two-light mullioned window in the gable, incorporating a truss with two collars. A 19th-century brick chimney has been rebuilt, set back between the two gables with a star plan.

The timber framing of the main block on the left was originally the stair wing, later modified on the ground floor with a three-light mullion and transom window. A single-storey gabled porch, likely added in 1843, is on the left. Above the porch is an original section of the building with angle braces to the wall plate; to the right is a mullioned window above a gablet, also added in 1843. A short length of timber framing remains on the left, with two panels per floor, an inserted window at an intermediate level above a previously ovolo-moulded window that was later blocked. A two-bay wing is set forward to the left; the upper floor is partially incorporated into the roof, with angle braces connecting main posts to wall plates and tie beams. A two-light window is on the right, with a square opening to a cellar within the plinth on the left. Above this is a lean-to dormer and a plain brick chimney rises from the eaves.

The left return features two gables of different dates, with an original star-plan chimney behind the second. A large stone chimney projection is centrally located on the rear elevation, topped with a plain brick chimney. The head and sill survive on the left side of a canted oriel window at first floor level.

Internally, the main hall and both floors of the cross wing have beams with pyramid stops, while a quarter-ceiling in the first floor of the cross wing features beams. The main staircase is dog-legged with a heavy moulded string and handrails, turned balusters, open-work finials to the newels, and carved pendants. Small, moulded plaster plaques are in the ceiling, and a single openwork plaster knob survives. An original three-board door leads to a loft at the top of the stairs. Good panelled doors, dating to the 1840s, are present on the ground and first floors, each with two tiers of four narrow panels. To the left of the porch are resited stairs with a moulded handrail, turned finials to the newels, and some original splat balusters. The ceiling of the main room above the moulded cornice is decorated with scattered plaster plaques, and a mid-17th century panelled door is present. A queen-strut truss is visible in the cross wing, while part of the main block was reroofed in 1843 with matching materials. The end truss in this section retains some wattle and daub, as well as evidence of a window.

The original house appears to have comprised a main block, a cross wing, and a stair wing, all dating to the late 16th century, with additions in the 17th century. A fire on the first floor of the main block led to a partial reroofing in 1843, evident by carving and smoke blackening on a truss; the interior was partly altered at this time, and the majority of the windows date from this period or later.