Swinton House

Swinton House

Swinton House is a plain classical style country house dated 1800 with later additions and alterations. The building comprises a main residence of 2 storeys with basement and attic, together with a lower 2-storey, 5-bay rectangular-plan wing adjoined to the south-west.

The principal front elevation faces north-west and presents an asymmetrical 6-bay facade. The construction is of lightly droved coursed sandstone ashlar with ashlar dressings, though repairs in part are rendered. A raised base course and raised string courses divide the floors, while sandstone mutules sit beneath corniced eaves with projecting cills. The south-west wing is of coursed and tooled sandstone with tooled and droved sandstone dressings and projecting cills.

The north-west entrance elevation is the formal front. Steps lead to a pedimented entrance positioned in the penultimate bay to the outer left, comprising a timber panelled door flanked by pilasters with Tuscan Doric columns to the front beneath a heavy pediment. A single window is aligned at first floor in this bay. The outer left bay contains single windows at all floors. A full-height projecting pedimented bay is set to the left of centre with single windows at all floors. The remaining 3 bays to the right are recessed and regularly fenestrated.

The north-east side elevation spans 4 bays. A slightly advanced pedimented bay to the outer right contains single windows at all floors, whilst the remaining bays to the left are regularly fenestrated. A single window occupies a projecting porch recessed to the outer right.

The south-east rear elevation displays a 5-bay composition to the main house. Single windows at all floors appear in the bays to the outer left and right. At the centre, a full-height shallow bow spans 3 bays and is regularly fenestrated. The adjoined 2-storey wing has a boarded timber door at ground level in the bay to the outer right, surmounted by a plate glass fanlight with a single window aligned at first floor above. Single windows at both floors occupy the 3 bays to the left, whilst a glazed door at ground level in the bay to the outer left has a single window aligned above.

The south-west side elevation features a projecting 2-storey wing to the outer right with single windows at ground and first floor in the bay to the outer left. An exterior stair leads to a part-glazed timber door in the bay to the outer right. The main house is recessed to the left with irregularly spaced single windows at all floors. A sandstone plaque at first floor is inscribed with what appears to be "MDCCC". An entrance front advanced to the outer left contains single windows at all floors, though the first floor window is blind. Square-plan, pyramidal-capped piers flank a courtyard entrance with a range of single-storey outbuildings within.

Windows throughout are 12-pane timber sash and case units, some featuring painted imitation windows. Various skylights are present. The roof is of grey slate with piend and platform construction; decorative rainwater goods are in evidence. Chimney stacks are predominantly corniced sandstone with some metal cans.

Interior spaces demonstrate refined domestic planning. The entrance hall contains a timber panelled door accessing a main stair with timber treads, decorative uprights and timber handrail. A separate door accesses a top-lit inner hall with a decorative timber fire surround and architraved surrounds to double timber panelled doors leading to reception rooms and service quarters. At first floor, a large rectangular opening is enclosed with decorative Chinese or Chippendale style timber balustrades to the landing, served by a glazed ceiling light and compartmental ceiling.

To the left is a near-square-plan study. Behind this sits a rectangular-plan drawing room with timber skirting boards, timber dado rail, decorative cornice, marble fireplace and timber shutters. The bowed sitting room at the rear features fine timber skirting and dado rails, decorative cornice, broken pediments surmounting the doors, a replacement fireplace and timber shutters. The rectangular-plan dining room to the front contains timber skirting board, decorative cornice, ceiling rose, timber shutters and fireplace.

The kitchen and separate apartment to the south-west includes decorative nursery wallpaper revealed in part. Interconnecting first-floor rooms are arranged around a central opening, with further storerooms and bedrooms located in the attic. A service stair with timber treads, plain uprights and timber handrail accesses the basement and upper floors.

The basement retains former service quarters with service bells in place. Surviving rooms include a former servants' hall, gun room, milk house, beer and wine cellars, scullery and pantry. Various cast iron fireplaces and ranges remain in situ, with decorative stencil work revealed in part.