Frampton Court

Frampton Court is a small country house built between 1731 and 1733 for Richard Clutterbuck, possibly designed by John Strahan. It is an example of a Palladian villa. The front of the house is constructed of ashlar on a partly rusticated basement, with the remainder faced in roughcast. It features prominent quoin bands with alternating inner edges, a moulded modillion cornice, and a tall parapet topped with urn finials. The roof is not visible and contains small stone stacks.

The house’s central pediment sits upon a giant order of four Ionic pilasters displaying the arms of Clutterbuck quartered with Clifford. The design is symmetrical, comprising a central square block of two storeys and a basement, flanked by smaller, plainer square side wings linked by a recessed wall. Two large, conjoined chimneys, each with arched openings at their base containing bells, are a notable feature. There are five windows to the front elevation, with sash windows containing small original glazing bars and moulded architraves, eared to the first floor. The piano nobile has rusticated detailing with a sill band, and the outer ground floor windows are topped with pediments. A central doorcase features a similarly rusticated round-headed architrave, with a shell niche above a concave cornice, leading to a large door of eight fielded panels. Swags decorate the space between the floors flanking the shell niche. A wide flight of moulded stone steps, with small square piers and a stone balustrade that narrows towards the door, leads to the entrance. The basement, below a plat band, has similar 16-pane sashes with small glazing bars and rusticated surrounds. The side wings each have two windows to each floor. One window above the door of six fielded panels (the top two panels glazed) is inset. The rear facade is plainer, with similar fenestration including four large 12-pane sashes and a central door leading up a double flight of steps, featuring alternating triangular and segmental pediments and a straight cornice. Moulded lead rainwater heads are dated 1733.

The interior of the house remains largely unaltered, characterized by joinery of exceptional quality. The hall features a Doric frieze and a large basket arch leading to a twisted baluster staircase with an original lattice dog-gate. Two main rooms on the rear facade are panelled, with fireplaces featuring fluted pilasters or columns, and paintings set within framed areas above the fireplaces, incorporating Bristol Delft tiles. The rooms above also feature fluted pilasters and panelled walls. Some Jacobean panelling, including strapwork, survives from a previous house on the site within two small rooms upstairs.