Description

SP 13 NE 1/26 BLOCKLEY NORTHWICK PARK

25.8.60 Northwick Park
GV
I
Early C17; 1686; 1732; c1775; 1828; 1832 Architects are possibly William Talman
(1686); Lord Burlington (1732); John Woolfe (c1775) Richard Hulls (1832).

Ashlar with slate roof. Three storeys all sash windows mostly with glazing bars. The
original house is an early C17 open courtyard house with the opening to the west, the
chief remaining indication of this is the shaped gables on the east and west front
although these have been altered during their history. The east, south and west
fronts have ben largely remodelled as follows:-

East (entrance) front. Five bays, remodelled by Lord Burlington in 1732. All the
windows date from this period. Bays 2 to 4 are 2 storey projections forward of the
C17 building line. First floor windows outer bays pedimented inner ones arched with
balustraded aprons. Coat of arms in centre. Lord Burlington's front door is
unaltered but has been obscured by a late C19 Roman Doric porch with broken pediment.
The attic gables, were reduced from 5 to 3 and give shaped as opposed to crow-stepped
sides at some time between 1788-1804.

South front has two 3 storey semi-circular bays each with 3 windows, centre window
between over ground floor niche. This part by John Woolfe. The bows were heightened
in 1828 (dated on the rainwater-head) and the roofs seem to have been partly
reconstructed at that time.

West front of 9 bays 2.5.2, tall sash windows with eaved architraves. Centre 5 bays
set slightly forward with quoins, modillioned cornice, and pediment crowned by vase
and containing large coat-of-arms. Central doorway with open segmental pediment.
Tall panelled ashlar stacks. This remodelling perhaps by William Talman.

North front has service wing which continues the west front and terminates in a square
block crowned by a clock turret and weathervane. The courtyard front has some C19
alterations.

Interior. The principal rooms are the Hall by Lord Burlington with marble floor,
Inigo Jones style ceiling, and a fine pedimented Corinthian doorcase (now blocked).
Mahogany doors. The domed staircase which is fitted into the courtyard; the dome
dates from 1828 but the staircase itself may be circa 1775 by John Woolfe. Circular
stair with wrought iron balustrade. There are also rooms with contemporary fittings
and decorations on the west and south fronts. Including 2 important fireplaces by
P M Van Gelder dating from 1788.

The Picture Gallery was added in 1832 by Richard Hulls and is at right angle to the
East front. Two storeys on rusticated plinth, 5 bays. Bays 1, 3 and 5 on the ground
floor are arched niches containing Coade stone vases by William Croggan. First floor
cill band, cornice, balustraded parapet with central raised sculptual panel, also
Coade stone rusticated gate pier on north-east corner (to stable yard) see item 1/133.

Interior has top lit picture gallery built for the famous Spencer Churchill collection
sold 1859 and 1965. Important relief panel by John Deal (Interior not seen at time of
upgrading 3/1981).

Listing NGR: SP1676536376

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17540338

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

• 
  Huddersfield in 50 Buildings
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)