Description

YORK AVENUE
1.
5270
East Cowes
No 184
(Osborne Cottage)
Greenhouse, covered
way to north, and
Summerhouse
SZ 59 NW 5/118
SZ 59 SW 7/118 25.1.72.
II GV
2.
1856-7. Former residence of Princess Beatrice and her husband Prince Henry
of Battenburg, at one time Governer of the Isle of Wight, 2 storey main block
with single storey and attic L-plan wing to south. Stock brick with red brick
banding and chequerwork. Main block has 3 gables to west and one over north
and south sides. Plain bargeboards. Steep tiled roofs, Wooden bracketed
rectangular bay windows on 1st floor with casement lights. Canted bay windows
with central French casements on ground floor. The south wing has 2 projecting
gabled bays, the 1st floor windows rectangular bays as on main block but with
lattice glazing to casements. Tall brick banded chimney stacks. The north
front of the main block has a 2-storey rectangular bay window in brick, beneath
gable and wooden verandah across ground floor. Adjoining north front on the
east side, is a good greenhouse. Three bays on square plan, articulated by
slender cast iron colonettes up to three-quarter height, each bay of 6 vertical
rectangular panes in width with fanlight above with circles in spandrels.
The centre bay to west projects with iron cresting. Hipped glazed roof with
upper stage and iron corner finials. The covered passageway extends from the
greenhouse to the north and was built as a link with Albert Cottage (qv) to
provide an all weather means of access for the Princesses. The section now
belonging to Osborne Cottage extends down to the summerhouse or pavilion which
is also part of the same property. Rendered brick walls, plinth, cornice
and blocking course articulated by piers. Alternate bays have 3 light lozenge
glazed casements lighting passage. The summerhouse or pavilion is octagonal
and also rendered with pyramidal slate roof, the cornice broken forward from
passageway around it. The interior has a dining room with thin Neo-Classical
plaster-work on ceiling and wall panels. The staircase is cantilevered round
a rectangular full height well lit by lantern with plaster dome. Scrolled
iron balusters and to 1st floor landing. An open 3 bay gallery with fluted
square section piers gives onto one side of well at 1st floor level. Elaborate
scrolled newel at foot of stairs, surmounted by an elaborate brass lamp.

Listing NGR: SZ5108095028

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26557446

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

• 
  This Old House: Restoring, Rehabilitating, and Renovating an Older House
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Wiltshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Old House Care and Repair