Description

SU 5332 ITCHEN VALLEY AVINGTON PARK

14/19 Avington House (Formerly
5.12.55 listed as Avington Park)

GV I

Large country house. Late C16 half-H house for John Clerk but this mostly
rebuilt late C17 when service courtyard and banqueting hall added for George
Brydges, front extended to N & S and refronted late C18 for 3rd Duke of Chandos,
internal redecorating early C19 for Earl Temple, later 2nd Marquess of
Buckingham, purchased by Sir John Shelley, brother of poet, in 1848 who added
further service buildings and the conservatories (q.v.). Older core flint and
stone or brick dressings rebuilt in brick and blue brick with slate and lead
roofs. Plan of half-H main block of 2 storeys, 13 bays with centre 5 recessed
with to rear on left set at angle late C17 service courtyard with C19 service
building behind and along right side of it running from staircase at rear to
right of centre late C18 library wing leading to conservatories (q.v.). W front
2 storey, 13 bay with centre to bays recessed with piano nobile 1st floor. Centre
3 bays have Tuscan portice of c1680 in wood and plaster of 4 columns supporting
entablature with triglyph frieze modillioned cornice and pediment. Erected on
pediment late C18 3 lead figures said to come from Canons (Middx). Bays behind
portico rendered with central 8-panel double door and rectangular fanlight with
interlacing glazing bars in surround of pilasters and entablature. Ground
floor has 12-pane segmental headed sashes with taller similar above. Flanking
projecting wings have brick corner and centre pilasters carried up to top.
Inner faces are of 2 bays of blind openings similar to front which has 12-pane
segmented headed sashes with stone sill and rubbed brick arches and aprons,
brick entablature carried round pilasters, with blue brick frieze with red rubbed
brick panels and balustraded parapet between tops of pilasters surmounted by urns.
S end 4 bays, similar but with 2 bay pediments. Blind N end also has pediment
In centre, entrance hall has screens of columns each side with late C18 wall and
ceiling paintings. Above- saloon with c1800 copy of Renaissance ceiling with
paintings. Behind to right staircase late C18 has balusters as vertical chains
draped with honeysuckle. Library late C18 with bowed front and Pompeian wall
painting. In left wing on 1st floor drawing room has mid C19 painted;..figures of Earl
Temple's ancestors. Country Life,1922; p.882-9. Pevsner; 1966; p.84-5. plans of
house and proposed alterations of C18 exist in Huntingdon Library's Stowe records.

Listing NGR: SU5329932337

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17528668

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

• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  A Buying and Owning a Listed Building: A Brief Guide
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas