Hilston House (aka Gwent Outdoor Centre)

Hilston House

An unusually late example of Palladian classical style, perhaps replicating a building destroyed in 1836, Hilston House is a grade II* listed building of considerable architectural interest. The main range is a symmetrical 2-storey composition built of painted stucco with hipped slate roofs, facing northwest with a double-pile plan on a northeast to southwest axis. The facade displays a 2:1:3:1:2 window arrangement with a prominent 3-bay pedimented Ionic portico at the centre, whilst the 2-window outer bays are set back. An L-plan service wing is attached to the northeast end.

The entrance front has a stone plinth and is distinguished by paired pilasters to the corners of both the centre block and outer bays, a simplified entablature matching that of the portico, and a low blocking course clad with lead. Each bay has a plain string course over the ground floor and a sill-band to the upper floor. Under the portico, the 3-window centre is slightly set back with pilasters to the re-entrant angles. It features a wide central doorway with a pedimented architrave and part-glazed double doors, a cross-window on either side of the doorway, a tall 2-light casement above the doorway, and 12-pane sashes either side of that. All other facade windows are 12-pane sashes with raised architraves.

The right-hand (southwest) return wall, formerly having a large conservatory attached (visible in Bradney's 1907 photograph), is divided into 3 bays by paired pilasters. It now has a modern external staircase in the centre leading to an inserted doorway at first floor level; a 12-pane sash at ground floor of the first bay and smaller 12-pane sashes at first floor of both outer bays.

The southeast garden front presents a more informal composition of 1:3:2:3:1 windows, with large full-height canted bays flanking a narrow 2-window centre and a continuous veranda to the ground floor. This veranda is composed of cast-iron Ionic columns with an entablature and dentilled cornice, spanning 11 bays. The last 3 bays are now filled with large small-paned windows. Otherwise, the ground floor has tall round-headed French windows except the centre, which has a pair of coved niches. At first floor the centre features a pair of round-headed windows with radiating glazing bars lighting the staircase. The right-hand (northeast) bay has a bowed 5-light mullion-and-transom oriel window with small-paned casement openings, probably early 20th century. All other windows are 12-pane sashes with raised architraves. Over the centre bay is a domed lantern to the staircase.

The service wing attached to the northeast end is L-shaped with a projecting wing, 2-storeyed to a lower level, and distinguished mainly by plain pilasters and a pedimental gable to the wing containing an oculus. The fenestration includes tall 12-pane sashes at ground floor and small 2-light casements above; there is a Georgian-style doorway in the 3rd bay of the gable. This part screens extensive later 20th-century service extensions to the rear which are not of equivalent historical or architectural interest.

The interior features a wide entrance hallway opening onto an imperial staircase mounting in 1 and returning in 2 flights. The hallway, stairwell and landing are lined with 17th-century panelling (ex situ), and the staircase is in 18th-century style with cut string and turned balusters alternately twisted. The stairwell is lit by a glazed domed lantern. The principal rooms to the right (southwest) of the hallway contain fine 18th-century-style panelled doors and wall panels, elaborate overmantels, and moulded plaster cornices and ceilings. To the left (northeast) is a large dining room with simpler decoration. At first floor level are two bathrooms, one on each side of the landing, both with walls clad in streaked marble and cast-iron baths furnished with glazed shower frames, probably early 20th century but possibly earlier. There are also original bedroom fireplaces, including one with a hob-grate decorated with figures in medallions.