Whitminster House

Whitminster House is a country house with a medieval core, probably originally a hall house with solar in the south east corner. It was enlarged probably by Richard Bird in the late 16th century, and extended early in the 17th century to the north by his daughter. The Lloyd family extended it to the west in the late 17th century. Richard Owen Cambridge refaced the west and south elevations with sash windows between 1740 and 1750. The Wilton family further remodelled the west and south ranges in Tudor style from 1867 onwards. The Teesdale family have occupied it since 1884.

The building displays varied stonework reflecting its development: the east and north elevations are faced in roughcast blue lias, whilst the west and south elevations are faced in ashlar. The roof is mostly stone slate. There is a large rendered stack with moulded stone cap in the angle to the south east, an ashlar original end stack to the early range now forming a ridge stack, three diagonally set ashlar flues on the ridge stack to the north west dating from the 17th century, and 19th-century ashlar stacks to the west and south ranges.

The plan is large and E-shaped with a double central range and small two-storey porch between projecting end ranges. The building is mostly two storeys with attic accommodation. The entrance front to the east features three gables recessed between projecting gabled end wings, each with nearly full-height wide canted bays of the 18th century fitted with sashes. The two gables to the left are earlier and have hollow-moulded scattered two-light stone mullions, some restored and some with square hoodmoulds. The right gable displays 17th-century ovolo mouldings. Each gable has a pair of roses in pargetting at the apex from the early 17th century, which is very unusual for Gloucestershire. The junction of the 16th and 17th-century work is obscured by a two-storey gabled porch probably of the 18th century with moulded ashlar round archway and a single stone-framed light over. An inscription tablet between the arch and cornice bears the words "PER DOMINUM" beneath a cornice breaking forward over small consoles, probably moved from above an early 17th-century inner door which has similar style hood with ovolo-moulded and stopped jambs, and an original studded plank door with large strap hinges.

The south and west fronts are both in Tudor Gothic style with mostly two-light stone mullions and transoms. The south front has a replaced plain gable to the far right and a small central coped gable with kneelers and central stack over a single-storey embattled porch with roll-moulded four-centred archway and hoodmould. The west front originally had five gables, reduced to four in the 1860s. The large nearly central gable was remodelled from the main bedroom and drawing room, with a slightly projecting three-light bay with embattled blocking course. A large projecting gable to the right contains a two-storey triangular bay. The north side mostly retains 18th-century sashes and features a small bell turret with a bell dated 1739.

The interior retains features from all periods. Moulded beams of the 16th century survive, along with a very large chamfered kitchen fireplace arch probably of the early 17th century (though a date of 1618 is inscribed, the arch could be earlier). The library in the south west corner is panelled in the 1740s and contains an original fireplace and a bookcase probably made in the early 19th century within the room. The stair on the east side, probably of 1740 or possibly earlier, features twisted balusters, ramped handrail and moulded dado, and is lit by a very ornate tripartite moulded skylight probably of the 1860s. A panelled room of the 18th century exists in the north east range. The south and west ranges contain large remodelled Victorian rooms with elaborate plaster cornices unspoiled by layers of paint; the cornice in the drawing room to the west is especially fine. This room contains original William Morris wallpaper of 1884 and a white marble fireplace with complete inlay of Minton tiles probably of the late 1860s. Many original fittings remain, including curtain rails, mirrors, shelves and fire screens, probably contemporary and possibly designed for the room. The stairwell also retains original 19th-century wallpaper and elaborate plaster cornices.

The house represents a very interesting example of the development of a small country house. It is set near the junction of the Stroudwater and Gloucester and Sharpness Canals with the River Frome; the first three miles of the river were made navigable by Richard Owen Cambridge in the 1740s.