Brownshill House

PAINSWICK WICK STREET SO 80 NE (west side) 5/356 Brownshill House (formerly listed as Wick 21.10.55 Street Farmhouse) GV II Large detached house. Dated over entrance EP (Edward Palling) 1665, but looks of earlier date, as does the moulded door surround. Limestone ashlar, stone slate roofs. A long narrow building which looks as if it was once a hall house, with service wing left, and hall with parlour right, but the facade now complete two or 2½ storey C17 layout. There is a full height coped gable far left and to the left of doorway; a second full height, uncoped gable near right end. 1:2:1:1 windows plus stair lights, stone mullioned casements with leading and to stopped hoods; in left gable 2, over 3, over 4-light with king mullion, then, well to right of door, 3 over 3-light, and 2 over 2-light, the last without hood, smaller and lower set; two stair lights; in right gable 2 over 3-light, over two 2-light perhaps replacing former 4-light. Extreme right 2 over 2-light. Left gable has plaque set high, and right gable a small oculus. The plank and batten main door is in a moulded surround with moulded imposts and a flat basket-handle arch in a deep lintel stone carrying a key-stone decorated with date and initials, all beneath a capping mould. Above is a vesica piscis in rusticated surround with eovil-de-beuf windows in upper two thirds, glazed with intersecting Gothick leading. Main gables are coped, left one has stack, and there are two further ridge stacks. The back elevation is similar, but the centre section is in coursed rubble; there are two 4-light plus transom wood windows and a central 3-light dormer. Small square light left of door. C20 glazed door far left to large stone lintel. Right gable has 2 over 3 over 3-light and right gable 2, over 3, over 2-door 2-light; small oculus high in gable. Interior: panel and muntin screen to left of door on entry. Centre room has deep chamfered stopped beam, large deep fire with C20 bressummer; some opened-up timber framework to a partition. Drawing room has a 2-panel C17 plaster ceiling, large square fire opening to ovolo mould surround and shouldered mantel shelf; spiral stair beside fire. Roof structure not seen. An unusual elongated horse plan. William Palling, who built, or rebuilt it in 1665, had four sons. He owned also Well Farmhouse (q.v.).

Listing NGR: SO8588107441