Troy House

A mansion apparently built in three distinct phases, the first two of which are externally disguised by the third, which is an imposing but somewhat austerely-designed late C17 classical block on the N side, facing N. This is built of mixed random rubble with red sandstone dressings and slate roof. It has a double-pile plan under a hipped 2-span roof, and is 3-storeyed plus attics, the ground-floor level being a full basement. The facade is a symmetrical composition of 4:5:4 bays, the centre breaking forwards very slightly and pedimented, with regular dressed quoins to this and to the outer corners. In the centre a very prominent T-plan stone staircase, with nosings to the steps and solid ashlar parapets with plain ramped copings, leads to a large square-headed doorway which has a moulded architrave with a swan-neck pediment on consoles, and tall panelled double doors. The windows at this level (the piano nobile) are tall 24-paned hornless sashes with plain architraves, over each of which is a shallow relieving arch of rubble. There are similar rubble arches over the basement windows, which are shorter and have modern joinery and glazing in cross-window form. The 2nd-floor windows have cross-window joinery and small-paned glazing. In the roof there are 4 gabled dormers each side of the central pediment, with small-paned 2-light casement windows; and between the ridges of the roof are 4 wide ashlar chimneys with cornices at the tops. The 3-bay W return wall has matching fenestration except that the windows at 1st-floor level have cross-window joinery and small-paned glazing. [Pevsner and Newman report a much smaller 4-bay, 4-storey C18 block set back at the E end and masking an early-C17 wing (the remains of a house built for Sir Charles Somerset), and another wing projecting to the S, also probably early C17.]

Not seen, but Bradney reported that the hall is in the centre, with the state dining room to the left and a suite of withdrawing-rooms to the right; very broad stairs in a large square volume to the rear of the hall, with "balusters of handsome oak of the time of Charles II". Pevsner and Newman describe this as "a magnificently spacious open-well staircase . . . in its own pavilion . . . from ground floor level through two storeys . . . (with) thick twisted baluster, which are formed into groups of fours, and a ramped handrail." They also mention plaster ceilings, etc.