Description

SO 71 NE ELMORE ELMORE VILLAGE

1/53 Elmore Court
10.1.55
II*

Large country house. Between 1564 and 1588; additions and
alterations: C18, early C19, and c1869. Limestone ashlar;
ashlar chimneys with moulded caps; plain tile roof. Central hall
with cross-wings; 2- and 3-storey; large single-storey service
wing to rear. South front: accumulation of features of various
dates in asymmetrical facade. At centre 2 early C18 segmental
headed mullioned and transomed casements, that on left largely
replaced by C18 porch in Doric order with 3 columns in row to each
side and with balustraded parapet bearing Guise arms; 3 narrow
sashes above; large C16 mullioned and transomed octagonal bay
window to right with 2 sashes above bay parapet; further right
facade is 3-storey with continuous drip moulds and has large
projecting octagonal-ended single-storey C18 bay window with 3
sashes in segmental headed openings and moulded architraves,
surmounted by parapet with urns; 2 ovolo-moulded cross windows
above to second floor; the height of this part of facade
regularized by continuous moulded parapet. Left part of south
front is 3-storey 5-window early C19 rebuilding with sashes and
plain banding between floors; parapet to match remainder of
facade. Hipped roofs; C19 ashlar chimney stacks with moulded
caps. East facade: also an accumulation. Earliest features are
two 3-light recessed chamfered mullioned cellar windows, now
blocked, and round arched C16 blocked doorway with imposts and
keyed architrave with cornice over on small brackets and rusticated
panel above; otherwise facade is C18 five-window with sashes in
moulded openings to lower 2 storeys and six C19 round arched
openings to top storey with rusticated architraves and small-paned
casements with fanlights; very large blocked round arched opening
with moulded architrave to east side of bay projecting to left in
south facade, probably garden doorway; moulded parapet continues
from south front. North elevation: left half continues facade
with moulded parapet from east, having 2-window fenestration in 3
storeys, all 9-light ovolo-moulded mullioned and transomed
casements except small-paned sash to left in ground floor. Right
half is C19, part gabled, windows being mullioned and transomed
with relieving arches. West facade: to right early C19,
otherwise c1869 (date on doorway with bracketed porch hood); 3-
storey 5-window with sashes in beaded openings.
Interior has many features dating from C16 house. Great Hall
largely remodelled but has stone C16 fireplace with painted
strapwork. C16 bay window re-glazed in 1853 with heraldic stained
glass. Drawing room with Jacobean panelling having continuous
frieze with dragon carving; fireplace with strapwork decoration
and 2 shields in heraldic chimneypiece above. Oak staircase in
small hall on north side is late C16, and serves 3 storeys; large
square newel posts with moulded finials and slanted balusters;
brattishing to hand rail. Over Great Hall the Oak Room contains
elaborately carved oak C16 chimneypiece, embellished with caryatids
and 3 round arched panels with the arms of the Guise and
Pauncefoote families, with the Guise impaling Pauncefoote in
central panel. Another upper floor room contains cruder C16
chimneypiece carved with figure of Father Time in circular recess.
The C16 house was built on site of medieval house whose remains are
said to be visible in the cellars. Stands on land in ownership of
Guise family since C13. Site is on slight hill and is therefore
dominant in the otherwise flat landscape. (Anon., Elmore Court,
(guidebook), n.d.; article in Country Life, 26th December, 1914;
and D. Verey, Gloucestershire: The Vale and the Forest of Dean,
1976.)

Listing NGR: SO7828515333

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Elmore Court at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q5366877

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

• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)