Description

ST 89 NE MINCHINHAMPTON GATCOMBE PARK

7/246 Gatcombe Park

28.6.60
II*

Large country house. 1771-4 by Francis Franklin of Chalford for
Edward Sheppard; c1820 remodelling with additions by George Basevi
for David Ricardo M.P. Ashlar limestone, coursed dressed
limestone to rear; ashlar chimneys; stone slate roof. Two-
storey with attic central block, double pile plan; flanking
single-storey wings, west linked by curved conservatory to summer
house. Front: symmetrical fenestration arranged 2:3:2. Outer
parts of facade have 12-pane ground floor sashes, 9-pane above, all
in plain openings. Central pedimented break forward with
tetrastyle portico to ground floor, central doorway having glazed
doors, flanked by narrow 8-pane sashes. Sides of portico have
open balustrade, stone approach steps flanked by urns with
gadrooned spiral-fluting. Open balustrade panels to parapet above
portico, central upper floor round arched sash flanked by narrow 6-
pane sashes; uncarved block projection in central pediment
tympanum. Plain upper floor bands. Moulded cornice with parapet
having open balustrade panels. Hipped roof with 3 flat roofed
dormers, ridge-mounted chimneys with moulded caps, those on return
sections of roof much larger. Flanking bow-fronted wings have 3
glazed doorways to each, moulded cornice and parapets with open
balustrade panels. Long curved conservatory to west having
central glazed clerestorey. Two 12-pane sashes to summer house in
formerly open round arches. Moulded cornice with parapet having
central Jacobean-style shaped gable with octagonal clock-face.
Lead cupola to small bellcote behind. Rear: 7-window sash
fenestration, generally 12-pane to ground floor, 9-pane above.
Central round-arched stair sash. Interior: not inspected but
described from NMR photographs. Central stair hall with screen of
2 Doric columns in antis; dentil enriched cornices. Cantilevered
open well staircase with shaped undersides of treads, stick
balusters and wreathed handrail terminals. Various fine early C19
fireplaces. Library in east wing has bookcases designed by
Basevi. The early C19 work by Basevi was formerly thought to
consist of some internal work, additional wings and summer house.
More likely that a thorough rebuilding took place leaving little of
Edward Sheppard's house. Contemporary (1820) stables to east
(q.v.) and pyramid monument in landscaped grounds to south (q.v.).
(Set of photographs including interior in NMR. R. Cooke, West
Country Houses, 1957; N. M. Herbert, 'Minchinhampton' in V.C.H
Glos. xi, pp.184-207; and D. Verey, Gloucestershire: The
Cotswolds, 1979)

Listing NGR: ST8809499410

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Gatcombe Park at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q1405039

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

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  The Shredded Chef: 120 Recipes for Building Muscle, Getting Lean, and Staying Healthy
• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  London 4: North: North v. 4 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)