Parc Howard Mansion (Museum & Art Gallery)

Parc Howard Mansion is a large, two-story house built in the 18th century and designed in the Italianate style. It is situated on a symmetrical main facade, although the rear elevation features an asymmetrical, tall belvedere tower. The building is topped with low-pitched slate roofs hidden behind balustraded parapets, which are adorned with urns.

The front facade has three windows and a large, central porte-cochere. The side elevations are characterized by prominent two-window projections. The windows are large, plate-glass sashes; the upper floor windows are arched with moulded heads and keystones, while the lower floor windows are rectangular within plain, raised surrounds. A raised plinth is visible, with channelled piers between the bays, and a band and moulded string at the impost level of the upper arches. A moulded entablature and cornice extend forward over the dividing piers, culminating in a balustrade featuring pedestals and urns. Sunk panels are positioned between the window sills and the band or plinth. The ground floor features a large arched doorway flanked by arched windows. A large, triple-arched porte-cochere, constructed in a similar style with elliptical side arches, covers the entrance. The keystone and spandrels of the porte-cochere have uncarved stonework.

The side elevations are plain, embellished with mouldings, and incorporate two-window projections that mirror the main front. The west-side projection adds a ground floor window on the north side, adjoining the main house’s single-window range. A belvedere tower is squeezed into the angle between the building and a service range; its lower floors appear undifferentiated, with a narrow door in the angle to the service wing and an arched window above. The tower itself begins at the level of the balustrade, featuring raised, channelled angle piers, a cornice that projects forward over the piers, balustrades, and corner pedestals with urns. A corniced paired stack is located at the south-east corner. The tower’s windows are arcaded, with moulded arches, keystones, pilasters between, and balustrading. It features triple windows on each side except the south front, which has pairs to accommodate a chimney stack.

The service wing is fronted with ashlar and is two stories high, featuring a parapet and a channelled pier at its left end. The ground floor has two large, plain sashes, while the first floor has arched windows with an impost-level string course, moulded heads, and keystones up to the cornice. There are two single windows in the outer bays and two pairs in the centre. Attached at the left end is an ashlar carriage arch with a keystone and plain coping. The rear of the service range and the main house is stuccoed and of a utilitarian design.

A large, south-facing conservatory, with a curved roof, once extended from the east side of the house; only its rear wall remains.

The interior features large rooms, including a fireplace with embossed tiles by Doulton of London, except for the south-east room, which has a marble fireplace. A broad, axial hall at the rear leads to an open-well staircase with a heavily detailed balustrade and a triplet of leaded stair lights in a Renaissance style.