The Mount House,With Railings Gates And Gate Piers On North Side

ST 79 SE ALDERLEY ALDERLEY VILLAGE

8/4 The Mount House, with railings, gates and piers on north side.

17.9.52

GV II*

Large detached house. Late C17 core, altered to south 1756, to north 1785. Rendered, with stone dentil cornice and parapet, Cotswold stone slate roof hipped to the west, brick stacks. Double range with angled corner to north east and large canted bays to each range at west end. 2 storeys and attic. North front of 7 windows, mostly original 12-pane sashes with moulded stone architraves. Doorcase to right of centre with moulded stone architrave, dentil pediment supported on fluted consoles, and fine 6-panel door with fielded panels and retaining original lock and key in working order. South front of 6 uneven bays with central round-headed windows on each floor, remaining windows as north front. Doorcase to right of centre up 3 curved moulded stone steps, with plain pediment supported on fluted consoles and with 6-panel door with top 2 panels glazed, also with original lock gear. Interior: Most of the original joinery of the C18 survives, including very fine wooden staircase in entrance hall with carved string, turned balusters, and ramped handrail. On north side of house, wrought iron double gates with raised central scrolled motif, flanking rusticated stone piers on moulded bases with fluted frieze and rounded pyramidal copings. To each side, railings with inset diamond pattern on stone base with stone piers marking ends of house, slightly smaller than gatepiers and of ashlar with fluted frieze. This was the last residence of Marianne North, botanist, died 1890, and she laid out the gardens during 1880s. Some of the original layout and plants still survive, including a stone sundial with a bronze memorial plaque to her last pet opossum mouse, Sir Henry, brought from Tasmania. She is buried in the churchyard of the Church of St. Kenelm (q.v.).

Listing NGR: ST7692390772