Paxton Dower House, Paxton House

Paxton Dower House, dated 1871 and designed by William J Gray, is a substantial asymmetrical Swiss Cottage style building with later additions and alterations. It is a single-storey structure with an attic, set within a landscaped site.

The building is constructed of cyclopean pink sandstone, with applied decorative half-timbering to the upper floor. Cream sandstone dressings are used throughout. A base course runs along the principal block, and a decorative string course is positioned between the floors. This string course features a zig-zag frieze and alternating circular and near-quatrefoil stencils, separated by timber modillions. Overhanging, bracketed eaves, with modillioned eaves to the former stable wing, are notable, as are the timber bargeboards featuring a decorative cusped frieze with trefoil filigree carving. Timber brackets support the upper floors, overhanging the chamfered corners. Rusticated quoins are present, exhibiting stylised vermiculation, while the window surrounds are lightly stugged, with projecting cills.

The south-east elevation, the main entrance facade, features a three-bay gabled projection at its centre, which incorporates a bipartite window on the ground floor. Single windows are positioned in the chamfered angles alongside. An oriel window, also timber-bracketed, sits above the ground floor windows. A decorative string course embossed with the inscription ‘REMEMBER TRUE TO THE END’ runs across the elevation. A gabled porch is situated to the right, sheltered by a piend-roofed corner. Decorative timber supports flank a round-arched opening with trefoil and quatrefoil carvings, a zig-zag frieze, and a timber-panelled door with a plate glass fanlight above. A recessed, jerkin-headed wing projects to the outer left.

The south-west elevation displays a three-bay jerkin-headed projection to the left with a window at ground level, flanked by single windows set in chamfered angles. An oriel window, also timber-bracketed, is centred above. A gabled wing is recessed to the right, featuring a single window in the centre of the ground floor. A single window is set in a chamfered angle to the right. A lower, former service wing is recessed to the left. A timber panelled door at ground level is flanked by single windows. Gabled dormerheads break the eaves, punctuating the bays flanking the centre. A former stable, with a jerkin-headed design, is recessed further towards the left, featuring a two-leaf boarded timber door and a boarded attic opening above. A linking corridor provides access to the stable, with a recessed boarded timber door.

The north-east elevation has a narrow window at ground level to the left, followed by a two-bay jerkin-headed projection with a window at ground floor and a timber bracketed oriel above. A lower, former service wing extends to the right, with single windows in each of the bays at ground level, including a narrow opening to the right. Gabled dormerheads break the eaves, above the windows which flank the centre. A single-storey wing is situated to the far right, containing a single window offset to the left of centre.

Predominantly three-pane glazing is found in timber sash and case windows, with projecting windows using three-pane casement glazing. The roof is covered in red tiles with fishscale banding and decorative brattishing. Sandstone stacks incorporate paired and triple flues, topped with decorative cornices bearing dogtooth ornamentation and circular cans.

The interior of the building was not inspected in 1999.