Description

LAUNDE

SK 70 SE LAUNDE ROAD

5/44 Launde Abbey

19 10 51

II*

Large House. Early C17, restored and added to in early C19. Finely coursed
ironstone rubble with ashlar dressings, and Welsh slate roof. Two storeyed
with attics. H plan. Principal (west) front has outer gabled wings, each
with canted and embattled two storey bay window with mullioned and transomed
windows of 2 and 3-lights, ovolo moulded. Above the bays a 4-light ovolo moulded
mullioned window to attic and the gable itself corbelled out on moulded kneelers,
coped and with finials. Main range has central doorway in porch of c1850
in style to suit the house, with 4-centred arched.doorway and coped gable corbelled
out and with finials. The windows to each side of this are not quite symmetrically
arranged, since to the left, on each floor are paired 2-light windows, and
a 3-light window, while to the right, the outer window on the ground floor
is of 5-lights and that above it of 4. 4-light King-mullioned window above
the door. All windows are mullioned and transomed and have caveto mouldings.
String courses form hood moulds to ground and first floor windows. Three dormers
above have coped gables corbelled out and carrying finials. They contain mullioned
windows, the central of 4-lights, the outer of three, each with flat hood mould.
North side has two projecting gable wall stacks and single corbelled gabled
dormer and 2 paired 4-light windows, which are Victorian renewals. Rear elevation
has outer gabled wings, that to north has a 6-light mullioned and transomed
window to ground floor and 4-lights above, both King-mullions, and four mullioned
lights to the attic. All have caveto moulding. The Chapel projects from the
southern wing. Between the wings stretches an early Victorian extension of
two storeys, flat roofed, with four bays of 3-light mullioned and transomed
windows on each floor. South gable wall continues into the fabric of the Chapel,
incorporating the shafts of the C12 crossing with a fragment of the arch above.
Two side wall stacks and two 3-light mullioned and transomed windows to ground
floor, 2 and 3-lights above with a single coped gabled and corbelled dormer
above.

Inside the house, the staircase is probably late cl7; open string stair with
three slender balusters to each tread, two fluted the other more gently moulded.
The handrail is swept over the newels and terminates in a gentle spiral. Four-centred
arched stone fireplace in the hall, and panelling which is early C19 in Jacobean
style. Dining room also probably refurbished c1820, but using much old material;
the fireplace has a 4-centred arch set between stone pilasters with stone panels
above, one dated 1689. This is contained in outer wood chimney piece with
ornately worked pilasters and panels, and figures in high relief. One panel
dated 1676 is incorporated. The entire room is panelled in the Jacobean style
with frieze, blank arcading etc., and it incorporates many decorated panels,
various low reliefs depicting biblical scenes are probably Flemish. Others
are C17 English in style, scroll work or geometric designs. One is dated 1663.
The library and drawing room are of c1820. In the drawing room a doorcase
with reeded architrave and gothick decoration in its round arched head. Decorative
round arched niches flank the marble Adam style fireplace. Simple plaster cornice.
Victorian additions to rear represent largely an extension of the service accommodation.

Listing NGR: SK7973504367

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Launde Abbey at Wikipedia
• Launde Abbey official website
• Wikidata Q6498468

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings