Cricket Court, And Attached Balustraded Walling Around Basement Areas

Cricket Court is a country house built in 1811 for Admiral Pitt, with possible alterations in the late 19th century. The house is constructed of local stone, with some areas rendered and colourwashed, and features dressings of Ham stone. The design is characterised by a hipped roof and a four-bay elevation where the basement is concealed by earthworks. The façade is rusticated with quoins, and incorporates ground floor windows with large 20-pane sashes, featuring eared and heeled architraves and aetope friezes above bays one, two, and four. A cornice supports a wrought iron balcony at first floor level, where casement windows are present with timber pediments. A pair of flush-panelled doors in an Egyptian style, positioned within a battered architrave, are sheltered by a projecting portico consisting of four Tuscan columns, matching pilasters, a full entablature, and a pediment with an added roof. Eleven steps lead to the entrance, which is flanked by balustraded walling extending in a serpentine fashion around the basement areas. Basement windows, in segmental arches, are of eight-light design. The north elevation has three bays, and the west elevation four bays, both featuring marjined French doors at ground and upper levels. Upper windows cut through the cornice, with two bays of each elevation set within a segmental curve. The interior of the house is not accessible. The design is highly eccentric, potentially by Admiral Pitt himself. Fragments of a 16th century house preceding Cricket Court are reported to exist, according to Pevsner. The house is surrounded by balustraded walling.