Coul House

1821, additions Alexander Ross, 1860. Unusual villa of 1821

centred on 2 octagons, 1 to south of 2 storeys with 2-bay

wings. Sympathetically enlarged in 1860 in identical masonry

style. Now 2-storey, of varying heights, 7 bays with further

2-storey, 3-bay service wing to south gable Pinned rubble,

contrasting tooled and polished ashlar dressings and base

course.

West front; tall octagonal central core projects as

semi-octagon with octagonal piended roof; tall corniced

ground floor windows and small square windows in 1st floor on

3 faces, all with moulded architraves; flanking 2-storey

2-bay wings with original ground floor windows as octagon;

2nd floor either re-windowed or raised in 1860.

East entrance front; centre entrance in semi-octagonal porch,

leading to octagonal hall, with pedimented portice; supported

by painted Roman Doric columns; moulded eaves cornice and

shallow leaded roof. Porch flanked by slightly advanced

piended outer bays, to right (west) containing stairwell

(which appoears to date from 1821)

1860 2-storey, 2-bay extensions flank west front, extending

east to form outer wings. Tall flat-headed ground floor

windows, and segmental headed 1860 windows in 1st floor

(except front octagon); later 19th century rectangular bay

window at ground floor imediately right of centre octagon;

later 19th century 2-storey 3-bay gabled service wing to

south gable.

Some lying-pane glazing survives in ground floor windows;

multi-pane in 1st floor; square corniced end and ridge

stacks, single and in batteries of 2 and 4; shallow slated

roof with projecting eaves.

Interior; semi-octagonal pilastered entrance hall; octagonal

drawing room with ornate plaster ceiling with central roundel

decorated with acanthus leaves, key-patterened panels radiate

to cornice; original black marble chimney piece.

Flanking ground floor rooms (present dining room and bar)

again with central acanthus roundels and circular panels with

anthemion and palmette detailing to ceilings, moulded cornices

Simple side staircase with plain cast iron balustrade and

continuous polished wooden handrail; simple panelling with

moulded plaster dados; corniced ceiling to stair-well.