Description

ST BURYAN BOSKENNA
SW 42 SW
8/78 Boskenna
-
GV II*
Country house. Datestones 1678, 1858 and 1888. Built for the Paynter family.
Granite ashlar to the principal elevations, otherwise granite rubble. Bitumen
grouted dry Delabole slate roofs mostly with gable ends, granite coped gables with
moulded kneelers to entrance front and wing on right. Cl9 pierced crested clay-ridge
tiles. Granite ashlar gable and axial chimneys, some brick chimneys. Bellcote over
left-hand gable of rear wing.
Plan: Large irregular plan. In 1678 the house was remodelled or rebuilt as a T-
shaped plan facing north west with possible hall on the left, parlour on the right,
and with a large stair hall behind the middle of the house. This plan survives as
the north-west wing. Probably in the C18 and circa early C19 there were deep service
wings added at right angles behind either side, however, these wings may have been
remodelled from remains of earlier, possibly C16 ranges. These wings survived until
1858 (datestone) when the house was remodelled and the rear right-hand (SW) wing was
completely or partly rebuilt in 1888 (datestone ) in the style of the C17 house.
Until then this wing was a coach house and stables. At probably the same time the
house was extended to the rear in the same style. The right-hand (SW) elevation then
became the principal entrance front. The irregular rear left-hand wing appears to be
circa mid-late C19 and was retained as a service wing.
Exterior: 2-storeys plus attic over parlour. Regular late C17 1:3 bay north-west
front has plinth and continuous hoodmould which steps up over the windows. Left-hand
window is a Victorian canted bay, with paired central lights and sidelights. The
other windows are in C17 chamfered openings. The windows are Victorian 2-light
wooden cross windows possibly based on original transomed mullions.
Principal 1:3:1:1 gabled south-west entrance front has remodelled C17 gable end on
the left, otherwise the front is Victorian but in similar style. Left-hand bay
projects slightly and the hoodmould continues from the north west front and steps
over a tall 4-light transomed mullioned window which is a Victorian replacement (old
painting shows a similar but less deep window). First floor window is a C17 3-light
mullioned window with a square hoodmould. Over this window is a datestone 1678 with
the arms of the Paynter family and another datestone 1858. The gable window is a
similar 2-light C17 window without a hoodmould. Octagonal granite gable finial is
Victorian and there are similar finials to the other principal gables. Next 3 bays
have gabled dormers with 2-light windows (all the Victorian windows are mullioned
with transoms and except for the dormers all the openings have hoodmoulds). Below
the left-hand window is a large 5-light window to light the Victorian hall and on the
right is a Tudor-arched doorway with 3-light overlight. Next (gable ended) bay
projects forward and has 5-light window to each floor. Right-hand bay is set back
and has 2-light window to each floor; the upper window is a gabled dormer.
There is reused C17 and earlier masonry both to the left-hand (NE) and rear (SE)
elevation. North-east front has a C17 gable end on the right with reset C17 doorway
on its left and single storey service wing on the left. Left-hand wing has pyramidal
roof lantern over the middle of the roof. There are three arched circa mid-C19 12-
pane hornless sashes to its front and a similar window towards the right. In between
is a canted late Victorian bay window with horned sashes. Mostly Victorian south-
east elevation has reused doorway with arched head (towards right) and moulded
spandrel stones of former probably C17 4-centred arch above. Right of the doorway
the masonry is older (possibly C17) with 3-light mullioned window possibly in situ
(If so, this is evidence for a larger plan house in the C17). Service wing
projecting forward on the right has lean-to with doorway constructed using C17
chamfered stones.
Interior: C17 parlour has complete late C17 bolection moulded panelling panelled
doors and a fine quality ribbed plaster ceiling of the same date. C17 possible hall
now a kitchen has Victorian panelling in the C18 style and a C17 chamfered fireplace
(under a large axial stack). Stair hall has C17 open-well stair with heavy turned
balusters, and pendants. Exposed roof structure above the stair is Victorian. C17
chamfered granite fireplace in chamber over kitchen. Resited circa early-C17 moulded
granite fireplace with dice stops in SW parlour. Other features are mostly Victorian
including: some ceiling cornices, the back stairs, chamfered roof structures, other
carpentry and joinery, chimney-pieced, cast-iron grates and cast-iron range in the
back kitchen. The Victorian back kitchen is lit and ventilated by a large roof
lantern. Behind the C17 parlour is a large Victorian room with a high ribbed ceiling
and a fine marble chimney-piece.

Listing NGR: SW4228623671

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17555600

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.

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