Brownshill Court

PAINSWICK WICK STREET SO 80 NE (west side) 5/356 Brownshill Court 21.10.55 II* Large country house, now several apartments. Mostly c.1777 for William Caruthers, but the west front is probably early to mid C18. Fine limestone ashlar with stone slate roofs, but Welsh slate to small link units. A grand Palladian composition with pedimented corps-de-logis linked to pedimented pavilions by straight wings. Main (east) front is 3 storeys, 5 bays, all glazing bar sashes, but central Venetian window at piano nobile, and lofty arched-head lights flanking doorway which has C20 glazed door in an Ionic pedimented portico. Plinth, sill band, rusticated quoins, modillion cornice and blocking course, four giant Corinthian pilasters. Hipped roof with 4 ashlar stacks with moulded cappings and smaller stacks to pavilions. Fully rusticated end pavilions are linked to main block by straight wings with Doric pilasters; pavilions one bay l½ storeys with oculus in decorative surround above pair of C20 glazed doors with 3 heavy key-stones. In the wings a central arched doorway is flanked by arched casements; left-hand door is studded plank. There is an extra bay to the extreme right. The back is in 3 storeys and basement but with 6 bays, all early C18 twelve-pane sashes in Gibbs surrounds to small key-stone and with butt-nosed sills; central ground floor may originally have been a door- way. To the basement are 5 elliptical-arched openings to 3 key-stones, and with iron bars. Interior: late C18 oak stair in central hall, swept handrails, 3 slender turned balusters to each tread; climbs in long flight to cross landing then divides left and right to top 2 floors. Glazed circular roof-light towards back of block. At ground floor a triple pillared opening with central ellipse, carrying the cross landing. There are many good fielded panel doors, and most windows have shutters. Various simple cross or transverse beams. First floor back rooms have C18 fire surrounds, one of these eared and moulded with high gabled overmantel with cherub in relief; at the opposite end is a more complex surround with moulded mantel but without overmantel; rich pierced cable mould and egg-and-dart enrichments. There are changes of level suggesting that back and front have been stitched together; at the time of survey the attic floor was unoccupied. The wing to the left has plain, heavy, close-set C19 beams.

Listing NGR: SO8561107289