Stouthall

Stouthall is a Neoclassical villa of three storeys with basement, constructed in local rubble limestone rendered and painted cream, with low-pitched hipped slate roofs set on wide bracketed eaves. A shallow Bath stone plinth in two steps runs beneath. The front elevation faces north, though the rear elevation, which features plainer fenestration and a full-height three-window curved bow, is more prominent on approach. Extensive low service buildings, also rendered and slate-roofed, are attached in two ranges to the east, enclosing a central yard.

The front elevation is organised in three units with the middle section slightly advanced. A shallow Doric porch carries two round and two square columns, with four steps rising to a pair of three-panel doors flanked by sidelights and topped by a fanlight. Above sits a triple window in a recessed panel, with a Diocletian window containing two large mullions above. At the flanks of the front elevation, the ground storey is concealed behind flat-roofed wartime additions, above which large web-traceried fanlights appear, with sash windows in the upper storeys. A Bath stone string course marks the first storey sill level. Basement areas lie to the south and west. The rear elevation contains seven windows including three within the bow; the west elevation has three windows; the east has two windows plus two blind windows. All original windows are concealed-frame sash type with plate glass. The bow windows are formed on the curve and glazed in curved glass. At ground storey and in the first storey of the bow and triplet over the entrance, windows contain equal two-pane sashes divided by single horizontal glazing bars. At first storey elsewhere, sashes are unequal, with a two-pane sash above a single pane. Second storey openings are square with single-pane sashes, including those in the Diocletian window. Shallow moulding and brackets ornament the first storey windows of the bow, which also feature an iron balustrade. A lead pipe centrally on the east elevation is the original pipe supplying water from the internal roof slopes to the domestic water cistern.

The Entrance Hall displays a fine Regency style handrail to the stairs, though part is concealed and probably missing. The ground storey features a Doric frieze and Bath stone flagging with mahogany doors. The upper part has a gallery separated by Doric columns and pilasters, with a moulded and enriched ceiling containing a central oval. The Drawing Room to the west has south-facing windows that are not original and lack casings. Doorways with moulded architraves open to the hall and library. A marble fireplace with inlaid mottled panels is present, along with moulded skirting, dado and cornice. The Dining Room to the east has a service area to the north separated by Doric columns and pilasters. It contains a white and mottled red fireplace with moulded skirting, dado and frieze, and an oval ceiling panel. The Library is an oval room fitted with mahogany bookcases, incorporating a concealed door to the Drawing Room with false book spines humorously alluding to this feature, perhaps not original. It has a mahogany door to the hall and a fireplace to the east. The rich decorative scheme of the main rooms extends through the first storey but does not continue to the second storey.