Patcham Place

Patcham Place is a mansion dating from the mid-16th century, with substantial alterations in the late 17th century and a significant enlargement and refronting around 1814-1820. The building is constructed of brick and flint, with visible flint behind a fire escape on the southwest side, also appearing on three walls of the lightwell. The northwest and northeast fronts are clad in black mathematical tiles, while the rest of the exterior is stuccoed. The roofs are slate and tile.

The house presents two storeys with seven windows to the northwest front and eleven to the northeast. The tiled fronts feature quoins of artificial stone in the form of rusticated piers. A projecting centrepiece on the northwest front incorporates a segmental-arched entrance with a doorcase of engaged Tuscan columns, an entablature, an open pediment with a dentil cornice, panelled reveals, decorative glazing to the fanlight and a panelled door of original design. Flat-arched windows with plain stucco architraves and keystones feature 6/6 sash windows of original design. A modillion cornice runs along the top of the building, with the centrepiece topped by a pediment containing a keyed oculus. The northeast front has ten windows with canted bays at either end and window details matching the entrance front. Stacks are located along the ridge of the roof. The southeast and southwest fronts are stuccoed with scattered window placement.

The entrance hall features architraves to windows and doors, a dado rail, a dentil cornice, and a fireplace with an eared surround and corniced mantel shelf. An elliptical arch with pilasters and a fluted archivolt leads to the staircase hall, which houses an open staircase with a curtail step, a wreathed and ramped rail, an open string with later ornament, and stick balusters. A Palladian window with panelled reveals and intersecting glazing bars is located on the half-landing. Doors to the landing have original architraves, panelled reveals, and panelled doors. The north room on the ground floor contains an elaborate chimney piece, likely dating before 1874, composed of panelled pilasters, an entablature with egg-and-dart and acanthus ornament to the cornice, a lugged architrave to the fire surround with a bracketed shelf above, and a panelled overmantel surrounded by garlands. This room also includes a panelled dado, a dentil cornice, and panelled shutters to the window embrasures. A third fireplace of similar quality is found in the northwest room on the ground floor, currently boarded up.

The house has a historical connection to Anthony Stapley, who lived at Patcham Place around 1620-1655. Stapley was a leading Puritan and Parliamentarian who signed Charles I’s death warrant.