Kingshill House

DURSLEY KINGSHILL LANE ST 79 NE (north side) 2/16 Kingshill House 23.6.52 II*

Formerly large country house, now local authority offices. 1705 (date plaque in roof) remodelled late C18 for Purnell family; c1880 additions and alterations for Edwin Eyre. Ashlar limestone; marlstone with ashlar limestone dressings and brick to rear parts. Ashlar chimneys; stone and Welsh slate roofs. Front block of 2 storeys with attic and cellar; 2-storey wing running back at rear to form L-plan; 2-storey service wing in angle. Front: asymmetrical but with central pedimented break forward. Fenestration 2:1:3:2. Chamfered rustication to ground floor and plain band above linking with central keystone of each window. Plain upper floor windows with incised architraves, except for 2 on left with moulded architraves. All ground and upper floor windows with C19 four-pane sashes. Four 6-pane attic sashes; outer attic window positions blocked. Chamfered quoins; mutule enriched cornice, mutules slanted in pediment; plain parapet topped by enriched urns. C19 single-storey flat-roofed porch with Doric pilasters and entablature; rusticated masonry, moulded and keyed architraves to round-arched door with fanlight and 6-panel door. Small round-arched side windows. North-west side: asymmetrical. Two-storey canted bay window to right with moulded architraves to 4-pane sash in each face except for central ground floor opening with glazed doors; mutule enriched cornice and parapet over with floral panels. Two-window sash fenestration left with moulded architraves. Cornice and plain parapet continues across facade as on front. Two-storey C19 addition to left projects forward with hipped roof and central pediment, all in stucco with ashlar dresssings. South east side: roughcast blank wall with small single-storey addition. Rear: back walls of C19 addition in brick. Marlstone service wing with limestone dressings to sash fenestration. Interior contains many features dating from alterations of late C18 and c1880. Entrance hall has Ionic columns lining approach to staircase hall; also contains C20 wooden classical fireplace. Room to right has late C19 Mannerist fireplace, and late C18 doorcases with fluted architraves and enriched entablatures. Hall with open well staircase having barleysugar balusters. Arcading to sides of upper hall incorporating shell-hooded niches. Date plaque in roof: 'P/TA/1705' fixed to surviving roof structure of gabled house concealed by late C18 remodelling. Many dividing partitions inserted into principal rooms, but all doorcases, fireplaces and cornices remain intact. Stood in landscaped grounds now occupied by 1930's housing. (A. Best et al, An Historical Survey of Dursley, 1985)

Listing NGR: ST7526899034