Wormington Grange

WORMINGTON GRANGE

Country house and kitchen yard wall. Built in the 1770s for N. Jeffreys, enlarged 1826–27 by H. Hakewill for J. Gist, with minor alterations in the 1920s by Sir G. Dawber for Mrs Clegg and mid-20th century alterations by A.S.G. Butler. Constructed in ashlar stone with slate roof and corrugated asbestos to part of the west face.

The main entrance front is three storeys and three rooms wide, with a two-storey three-window wing to the right forming a left return. A single-storey loggia stands to the left, and a long service wing extends behind, stepping down to three, two and one storey. The slightly recessed centre entrance is approached by a projecting stone porch with a prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico reached up one step. The porch features a cornice and pediment, with Doric pilasters on the corners of the flanking wings. The recess behind contains a semi-circular opening with semi-circular head. The back wall holds double half-glazed doors with a rectangular light above, framed by Roman Doric pilasters. Tall eight-pane sashes flank either side, framed with half-pilasters and a coffered ceiling. Above the porch, a two-light casement window with marginal outer lights is framed by Doric pilasters. The wings rest on a plinth with panelled giant pilasters at the corners. The ground floor displays a tripartite sash window with panelled pilasters, frieze and Roman Doric pilaster framing. The first floor has a tall tripartite six-pane sash window with Doric pilasters. A moulded cornice runs across the whole front above a plain parapet, set forward over the giant pilasters. The roof is hipped with chimneys on the ridge either side of the centre bay.

The garden front to the right features a plinth with giant corner pilasters and cornice matching the main entrance. Three sash windows in moulded surrounds occupy the ground floor, separated by a plain double string course. Three tall six-pane sashes with moulded surrounds are on the first floor. The left return shows the original three-unit entrance front with bows either side of the centre. The bows rest on a plinth and hold three sashes with a plain string course above. A single-storey open porch stands centrally, accessed up two stone steps and fronted by Roman Doric pillars with a frieze and pediment. Behind are half-glazed double doors with plain recesses either side. The first floor contains three sashes to each bow with linked sills and a sash window in the centre, flanked by semi-circular recesses. A moulded cornice crowns this level. The second floor displays three six-pane sashes in each bow with one between and a patera each side. A moulded string course runs beneath a plain parapet; the roof is hipped with chimneys on the ridge either side of the centre bay. To the left stands a single-storey three-bay loggia with panelled pilasters at the ends and unfluted Ionic columns between, all raised one stone step. It features a cornice and plain parapet, raised at the centre.

The yard wall adjoins the right side, set slightly back and approximately 2 metres high with plain coping. It comprises eleven bays to the corner with higher piers between each bay.

Interior: The T-shaped entrance hall features two unfluted Ionic columns with Roman Doric pilasters forming a screen. Six-panelled doors with moulded cornices on console brackets sit in the wings. The centre rear holds a semi-circular recess with semi-circular head, moulded surround with console keystone and wide panelled pilasters each side. A coffered ceiling surrounds a central laylight. The room to the right has a centre recess to the end with cambered head and framing pilasters of variant Ionic capitals. Six-panel doors in Greek-Revival frames sit either side. A moulded plaster cornice runs around the room with simple ceiling coffers around the perimeter. The left room contains a marble fireplace surround, panelled shutters, moulded cornice and panelled ceiling. The stair hall rises through three floors with double panelled doors to the old entrance hall and a dummy door matching adjoining ones with decorative frieze. The stairs are cantilevered dogleg stone with cast-iron balusters and a wreath at the handrail foot, beneath an anthemion frieze and coffered ceiling around a central laylight. The library features a Greek-Revival marble fireplace, mahogany built-in bookshelves with wire-screen doors, moulded cornice and panelled shutters, with moulded cornice to the ceiling.

The house was initially built in the 1770s as a two-storey structure with garden entrance. In 1826–27, a second floor, stairs and new entrance wing were added under Hakewill's direction, possibly assisted by Goldicutt. A loggia was added in the 1920s. Part of the service wing was removed in the mid-20th century with associated minor alterations.