Description

This list entry was subject to a Minor Amendment on 23/01/2020

SU 46NW
6/19

SPEEN
Benham Valence
Benham Park

[Formerly listed as Benham Park, BATH ROAD (south side)]

6.6.52

II*

Mansion. 1772-5 with substantial late C19 and early C20 alterations and additions. Probably by Henry Holland with assistance from Lancelot (Capability) Brown. Bath stone ashlar and stucco. Basement, two storeys and attic. Glazing bar sashes with blind hoods.

South front: nine bays. Central tetrastyle portico with unfluted Ionic columns, and pilasters behind, supporting entablature and balustrade. Entablature and pilasters continued one bay to each side, and cornice carried around building. Attic above with balustrade and urns. Blank rectangular panels between ground floor windows. Plinth and flight of steps leading to central half glazed double doors with architrave and segmental pediment on brackets.

West front: five bays. Central three bays projecting with ground floor windows in recessed arched panels linked by string course at impost level. Central three first floor windows have moulded architraves, bracketed cills and flat hoods. Blank rectangular panels between ground and first floor windows in end bays.

North front: nine bays. Central five bays projecting at ground and first floor level with Ionic pilasters supporting entablature and balustrade. Triangular pediment over central three bays with carved roundel and swags in tympanum. Attic above with balustrade and urns. Railed airey; and rectangular panels with carved swags between ground and first floor. windows. Central doorway with French casements, moulded architrave and bracketed flat hood.

North-east wing; West front: seven bays. String course between ground and first floors; cornice with attic and balustrade with urns above. Central three bays recessed and ground floor with blank arcade. First floor windows with balustraded balconies and flat hoods. Central window with triangular pediment. One storey, three bay wing to left with balustrade, blank arcade with rectangular panels above and central French casements.

Interior. Good; mainly late C19. Two fireplaces in entrance hall and one in main bedroom came from Stowe in 1922. The interior still contains many features of importance in the development of the C18 country house including the small circular double-height vestibule adjoining the inner hall to the west; referred to as 'the tribune' and later adopted by Soane. Grounds landscaped by Capability Brown.

Listing NGR: SU4401167742

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Benham Park at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q15198400

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

• 
  Specifications for Building Conservation: Volume 1: External Structure: Practical Examples v. 2
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Old House Care and Repair
• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)