Ston Easton Park

STON EASTON CP HIGH STREET (East side) ST65SW 4/26 Ston Easton Park 21.9.60 GV I

Country House in emparked landscape, now hotel. Circa 1769 for John Hippisley-Coxe; on a C17 foundation of which some fragments survive. Rendered to resemble ashlar, freestone dressings, emphasised rusticated ashlar quoins, continuous dentil cornice across facade, secondary cornices to units, parapets with copings concealing roofs, outer wings with low pyramidal slate roofs, centre block with rococo urns. Plain symmetrical Georgian facade in the style of William Kent; interior in Palladian style after Burlington. Main central unit of 2 storeys and attic storey, 2:3:2 bays, those to each side in shallow projecting wings; 2 storey single bay wing to each side connecting central unit to slightly projecting 2 storey single bay end pavilion. Twelve-pane sash windows in moulded architraves, except shallow 6-pane sash windows to attic storey; majority of openings with cornices set over except on first floor of centre 3 bays and first floor of pavilions segmental and triangular pediments. Door opening to centre, engaged Tuscan Doric portico, rosettes; semi-circular head door opening in rusticated surround, emphasised key, paired half-glazed doors, fanlight with radiating glazing bars. To centre of parapet a garlanded achievement of Hippisley-Coxe arms in relief. Rear elevation in much plainer style. Very richly decorated interior with much ornamental plasterwork, particularly in reception rooms; doors, doorcases, fireplaces, overmantels, kitchen features, ante room to library papered with C18 engravings and a bathroom with octagonal plunge bath on ground floor of east pavilion. (Country Life, March 23, March 30, and April 6, 1945; Robinson W. J., West Country Manors, 1930).

Listing NGR: ST6252054080