Tocknells House

PAINSWICK A46 (off east side) SO 81 SE 2/21 Tocknells House II Large detached house. 1860 by Benjamin Bucknall for Codringtons of Tocknells Court (qv - not to be confused with this item). Limestone ashlar, plain tile roofs. A four-square block, with half-octagonal staircase bay and projecting gabled wing to the right on entry front, a low gabled wing attached, left. Two storeys and attics, part basement. Entrance front has one or 2-light casements to the stair tower, then centrally a 3-light mullion and transom over porch; in coped gable, right a small quatrefoil vent over 2-light over 3-light mullion and transom casement, no window at ground floor level. Two continuous chamfered strings. In projecting gabled porch flanked by 3 openings now with plate glass, pair of plank doors with strap hinges. To left of stair is lean-to with a 2-light and a single light opening. Beyond, set back, lower block with plank door. Return right has coped gable over a 3-light transomed casement with stopped hood, above a 2-storey canted bay with 1:3:1 transomed casements at each level, and with cut stone hipped top. To left, in projecting arm, a 1 over a 2-light transomed casement. Continuous strings at two levels. Garden front is 2 storeys, attic, and part basement; two gabled, various transomed casements in 1, 2, 3, or 4 lights; off-centre, right, a door flanked by single lights. Two ridge stacks, to right with 4 terminals, and to left with 8; in each case lofty cylindrical terminals with heavy mediaeval style cappings. An eccentric feature of the main house is the use of stone gutters on brackets, and octagonal stone downpipes, distanced from the walls. The low wing to the right has a 6-light casement and two gabled dormers. All windows have chamfered members, and lofty angular shouldered tops to the mullions. The interior not accessible at time of survey (April 1986) but reputed to be essentially as created, with boldly modelled stone fireplaces, stone skirtings, and a main stone staircase surround- ing an enclosed service stair in its own shaft. A somewhat dour but very remarkable design by an ardent student of Viollet-le-Duc's precepts; Bucknall was a local man, responsible also for the great unfinished mansion at Woodchester Park (qv Woodchester cP) not far distant.

Listing NGR: SO8780912128