Description

MAMHEAD MAMHEAD PARK
SX 98 SW

5/333 The Orangery
11.11.52
II*

GV

Garden building, converted to a house. Probably 1740s in origin, designed for Thomas
Ball (died 1749), the owner of Old Mamhead House, "a great planter and
sylviculturist" (Hussey). Hussey suggests that the original building may have been
inspired by Archer's water house at Chatsworth and may have had a cascade descending
from it. Designs for improvements at Old Mamhead by Robert Adam in 1769 are said to
include a drawing for the conversion of a water house to a temple and to refer to
this building (Hussey), which was later converted to a gardener's cottage. Ashlar
Bathstone faced on to rubble with Portland stone dressings and a Portland stone dome.
Sited to command a spectacular view to the east towards the Exe estuary, the view
framed by C18 tree planting with extensive new planting carried out by the present
owner.
Plan: L plan; the main range single-storey with a polygonal domed projection in the
centre and a rear left wing which is a later addition (information from owner).
Exterior: Single-storey. 5-sided central projection crowned with a dome and cupola,
2 bays to the left of the projection, 2 bays to the right. Deep plinth below a
moulded string, plain parapet with a moulded cornice above a moulded string. Left
and right pilasters crowned with urns, pilasters to the projections, the central bay
of the projection crowned with an oval stone tablet in a scrolled frame with a ball
finial. The dome pilasters and keyblocks. The central openings in the projection
has a window with round-headed glazing bars: the other windows in the projection and
in the left and right bays are 2-light mullioned windows with moulded stone frames
and cornices.
Interior: Not inspected at time of survey.
Documentation about the gardens of Old Mamhead is said to be held by the Fitzwilliam,
Museum in Cambridge. (Information from owner).
Hussey, C. English Countr Houses: Late Georgian (1958)

Listing NGR: SX9288780953

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17535371

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Cork: City and County (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas