Manderston House

Manderston House is a substantial reconstruction and extension of a classical house dating from around 1790. The works were carried out by architect John Kinross between 1901 and 1905, incorporating earlier fabric into a new design. The mansion comprises a two-storey principal block with attic and basement running to eleven bays, a slightly lower seven-bay bachelor's wing of two storeys and basement, and a lower U-plan service court with motor house on falling ground. These elements run in succession from east to west.

The house is built of warm-coloured sandstone from Whitsome Newton Quarry, worked to razor-sharp ashlar quality on the main elevations, with squared rubble and ashlar dressings to the exterior walls of the service court. A band course runs above the basement level, with a Vitruvian scroll band dividing the upper floors. An entablature encircles the building with a balustraded parapet and urn finials marking the corners. Ionic angle pilasters with fluted necks feature at the corners, and the first floor windows are shorter than those at ground level.

The north elevation of the principal block has a slightly projecting three-bay centre featuring an Ionic tetrastyle portico. Bronze lion's-head bell-pulls are fixed to the corniced bases of the columns. The frieze is decorated with paterae and husk garlands, and there is low-relief carving on a tablet above the centre bay. A flight of steps leads to an architraved doorway with console cornice, topped by carved swagged armorial decoration. The two-leaf panelled doors are flanked by fine pendant iron lanterns on scrolled brackets. The two bays on each side of the portico are slightly recessed, with two advanced outer bays, all regularly fenestrated. Windows to the sunk basement are just visible in the bays flanking the portico.

The south elevation retains a seven-bay centre from around 1790, slightly recessed with a three-bay bowed centrepiece. The ground floor window at the centre of the bow is round-arched, and the outer bays are slightly advanced. A corniced ashlar wall shields the basement recess. A decorative cast-iron balcony on cast-iron posts encircles the bow with steps at the centre.

The east elevation runs to seven bays with the three centre bays slightly advanced. A pilastered and pedimented aedicule at the centre contains a semicircular pedimented French window set in a recess screened by an ashlar balustrade forming a balcony.

The west elevation shows only a single bay to the north, in the advanced return of the principal block, otherwise masked by the bachelor wing.

The north elevation of the bachelor wing has a basement recess screened with ashlar balustrade and corner blocks. Steps lead to the central door in two stages, flanked by corniced ashlar walls. The architraved door has a console cornice and two-leaf panelled doors matching those of the principal block. A swagged low-relief oval sits at first floor level above the door. The remaining bays have regular fenestration, except for an additional ground floor window in the outer left bay.

The south elevation of the bachelor wing echoes the principal block in diminutive form, with three advanced bays at the centre containing a full-height bow. Steps lead to the centre window, flanked by scroll-stopped ashlar walls. Corniced walls shield the basement recess.

The west elevation faces onto the service court. A luggage door to the right is approached by an ashlar mounting block with steps positioned over a semicircular basement window. To the left are a tripartite window serving a lift and a tripartite window to a landing at first floor. A further door to the basement sits at the centre, with irregular fenestration elsewhere.

Small-pane timber sash and case windows are used throughout. Segmental-arched leaded single-window dormers feature on the north, south and east elevations of the principal block. The roof is grey slate, piended and platform in form, with corniced ashlar stacks. Lead downpipes, fixtures and decorative hoppers complete the external detailing.

The interior displays a spacious layout and lavish Adamesque decorative scheme owing to the 1901-5 works by Kinross. Parts of the decoration derive from Kedleston Hall. The scheme was largely executed by Scott Morton and Company, with French and Italian stuccoists brought in to execute the stucco work. Fine plasterwork ceilings appear throughout. Fine Adamesque grates, mahogany panelled doors, and marble tops to grilled radiator cases feature across the house.

The oval vestibule is finished in Hopton Wood ashlar with a consoled and corniced entrance door and niched recesses above a Vitruvian scroll dado band. A classical chimneypiece and coomb ceiling complete the space. A vaulted cloakroom to the right is screened from an ante-room to the dining room by a two-bay arcade with translucent Derbyshire alabaster parapet and ornate silver-plated grilles.

The hall and flanking passages have ornate marble inlaid floors, with the passages articulated by Venetian archways on marble columns. The domed hall contains a chimneypiece tailored from a Kedleston precedent and distyle in antis fluted screens to the passages, with classical oval reliefs to the pendentives. An organ case by John Kinross after Robert Adam's design for Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, dating to 1910, stands in the former ante-room to the Drawing Room.

The circular Morning Room contains an Ionic pilastered marble chimneypiece dating to 1790, with gilded swagging, gilt borders, and niches. A curved concealed door leads to the Tea Room.

The Dining Room has an exceptional Edwardian Adamesque plasterwork ceiling with Mars in the centre relief. A pilaster-flanked buffet recess is adorned with fine stucco panelling, and a large consoled chimneypiece features prominently.

The Library has bookcases derived from the Kedleston precedent, concealing a door to the Hall, and a Corinthian columned marble chimneypiece.

Opulent Louis XVI decoration, in part by Charles Mellier and Company, adorns the interconnecting Ballroom and Drawing Room. Damask and velvet walls have gilded filigreed margins, and parquet floors run throughout. The Ballroom has a classical ceiling centrepiece depicting Apollo with Cupids, painted by Robert Hope of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1905, and an Ionic columned chimneypiece. The Drawing Room is entered through a fine double set of doors and again features part Mellier and Company decoration. A concealed door leads to the loggia on the east terrace.

The Tea Room has Chinoiserie decoration. The Business Room features a gilt border to damask walls and an ornate coffered ceiling.

The Hall and Gun Room of the bachelor's wing contain traceried cabinets. A lavish lavatory leads off, and an arched corridor has gilded swags and mirrors.

The stairwell, top-lit after that by Gabriele at Petit Trianon, features cantilevered marble stairs and a lavish silver-plated balustrade with brass handrail. A wide first floor passage is articulated with screens of fluted columns and arched doorways.

Bedrooms have fine Adamesque chimneypieces, brass bell-pulls and sconces. Lady Miller's bowed Boudoir is exceptionally decorated in neo-Jacobean style with a canopied chimneypiece, niched cupboard and timber ribbed ceiling. All bathrooms are marble lined with ornate period fittings. The Principal Bathroom is vaulted as an Imperial Roman bath, Doric columned with a silver-plated bath.

Basement corridors and rooms are lined with enamel glazed bricks by Craig and Company. The Housekeeper's Room is bowed with fine traceried china cupboards by Scott Morton and Company. The Servants' Hall is decorated in Sir James Miller's racing colours of primrose yellow and white. The Kitchen and Scullery are floored in black and white tiles with enamel-glazed tiled walls. A central range by G Drouet of Ateliers Briffalut, Paris, features beneath painted ceiling beams. A succession of tailored larders lined with appropriate shelving leads to the service court. Female servants' bedrooms in the attic have simple decoration. Mains electricity was installed in 1934, and a lift was introduced in 1960.

The service court is materially en suite with the main house. Panelled doors have two-pane fanlights, and grilles protect ground floor and basement windows. Four round banded pal stones mark the angles of the entrance pend. Granite setts pave the courtyard.

The west (motor house) range has a tall pedimented round-arched pend entrance with a keystoned oculus above, positioned centrally on both outer and courtyard elevations. Four flat-arched garage door openings with two-leaf boarded doors sit to the right of the outer elevation, fronted by a court enclosed with ashlar-coped rubble walls and cast-iron railings. Regular fenestration appears elsewhere. The courtyard elevation has three doors to the right of the pend and three windows to the left at ground level, with two windows above each side at first floor. The south return elevation has a Venetian window at ground level and three basement windows, with a single window above.

The south (laundry) range has a door to the left of centre and outer right of the courtyard elevation, with a window in each of the remaining eight bays at ground level. First floor windows appear in the outer and penultimate bays. The outer elevation to the south has regular fenestration to both floors. The end elevation to the east terrace is finished in ashlar with cornice, blocking course and tablet. A round-arched recess shields a bronze statue with a low-relief carved rectangular panel above. A screen wall abuts the principal block and encloses the courtyard.

The north range has five doors at ground level to courtyard storerooms, interspersed with three windows, and six regularly spaced windows at first floor.

The interior of the motor house is lined with glazed enamel tiles with a blue dado band. Marble alcoves for water supply and round-arched recesses with part-glazed timber cupboards feature. Two pits contain hydraulic machinery. The laundry is similarly lined, with machinery still in place.