Stonehouse Court Hotel

Stonehouse Court Hotel is a former large country house, dating from 1601 and originally built for Daniel Fowler. It was altered in the early 20th century by Sir Edwin Lutyens for A.S. Winterbotham, and underwent further internal rebuilding and alterations following a fire in 1908. The building is constructed of random rubble limestone with ashlar chimneys and a stone slate roof. Its layout is a U-shape, featuring a two-storey porch on the north side.

The north front has two parapet gables with a projecting, gabled ashlar porch between them. A datestone, likely from the 19th or early 20th century, reads "ER 43/1601" above a round-arched opening reached by semi-circular stone steps. The early 20th century replaced mullioned casement windows are arranged in three bays, each with a pointed head and leaded casements, along with decorative hoodmoulds. Small, mullioned windows are set within each gable, and two small hipped dormers sit between the gables. Cellar windows are chamfered mullioned casements of 2, 3 and 4-lights. Numerous diagonal-set chimneys, particularly a large cluster at the west end, are topped with moulded caps. A small Gothic doorway is within an attached screen wall on the west side. The east end features two parapet gables, one with a projecting chimney containing a cluster of five diagonal shafts, and scattered fenestration. The south front consists of the parapet gable ends of two wings and an altered main range dating from the early 20th century. Wings have single windows featuring mullioned or mullioned and transomed frames with hoodmoulds and leaded casements. A two-storey octagonal bay window, a surviving feature of Lutyens’ alterations, has a chamfered parapet and an adjoining chimney with two diagonal shafts. A tall, octagonal stair turret, also built after the fire, features scattered stair-lights and a four-centred doorway inscribed with “QVOD RESVRREXI / CAROLINAE EST / MCMVIII,” serving as a fire escape. The west end has a parapet gable and a two-storey brick service wing attached.

Inside, a fine Baroque stone fireplace with a scrolled pediment and cartouche is found in the main hall. Much of the panelling dates from after 1908, except for the main room in the west wing, which retains original Jacobean timber panelling and a fireplace. The staircase has a segmental tunnel vault with banded plaster decoration, and demonstrates Lutyens’ characteristic Surrey-style framing above a large Tudor arch. A distinctive design of stepped beam stops is also present.