Wardle House

GLOUCESTER

SO8318NW CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS 844-1/8/59 Wardle House 23/01/52

GV II

A prebendal house for a residentiary canon of Gloucester Cathedral, now public school house, part of the King's School (qv); 1677-1686, C18 alterations, remodelled and extended c1800. Rendered brick and rubble, slate roof, brick stacks. PLAN: double-depth block, built against the east side of the remains of the medieval wall which formerly separated the monks' cemetery from the lay cemetery within the precinct of St Peter's Abbey; entrance front on the north side with a large semicircular bow to left, garden front on the east side. EXTERIOR: two storeys and attic; entrance front of four bays and to left a large projecting bow, on the ground floor in third bay from right a late C19, gabled, timber-framed entrance porch with side-lights, within porch the entrance doorway, of c1800, framed by fluted pilasters with leaf capitals and entablature. INTERIOR: central hall has stone paving in diaper pattern with slate inserts at the corners of the slabs; excellent mid C17 open well staircase with pulvinated, closed string, square newels surmounted by carved urns and with pierced drops, twisted balusters and handgrip handrail; on both the first and the second floor landings are three c1800 suspended arches with drops and carved spandrels; room to left refitted in early C19, C19 slate chimney piece; other rooms with C18 panelling arched. HISTORY: in C19 the home of Mary Anne Lewis (Evans), later, as the wife of Benjamin Disraeli, Countess of Beaconsfield. (Welander D: The History, Art and Architecture of Gloucester Cathedral: Stroud, Gloucestershire: 1991-; Eward S: No Fine but a Glass of Wine, Cathedral Life at Gloucester: Salisbury: 1985-: 299, 312; BOE: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale and the Forest of Dean: London: 1976-: 226).

Listing NGR: SO8313118727