Description

ST 57 SW ABBOTS LEIGH
4/11 Leigh Court Hospital

G.V. II*

Country house, now a hospital but to be vacated in 1983-84. 1814 by Thomas
Hopper for Philip Miles of Bristol. Ashlar; hipped slate roof; ashlar stacks.
In a severe Greek Revival style. 2 storeys, on a moulded plinth, cellars and
attics. The south-east and north-west elevations are identical. 3:3:3 bays;
the central 3 are slightly advanced with a detached portico of four giant,
unfluted Ionic columns, plain entablature and pediment; glazing bar sash windows
in plain reveals and central glazed doors. The north-east elevation is of 7 bays
with the central bays recessed behind four giant Ionic columns in antis; French
windows on ground floor, glazing bar sash windows on first floor, C20 fire escape
to right; the outer bays have tripartite windows (the outer lights are blank)
recessed in a segmental headed niche. To the south-west are attached service
wings: 2 storeys; 9 bays of glazing bar sash windows; the south-west end is
2:1:2 bays with end Ionic pilasters, the central bay has a segmental headed
window and doorway to a central passageway. The interior is highly elaborate
with very fine quality Grecian-style plasterwork. Entrance hall: the square
room has a central ring of eight marble Ionic columns which support a saucer dome;
decorative anthemion friezes; stone and marble patterned floor. Staircase hall:
long oblong room with two flights of cantilevered stone stairs which rise up
either side and meet on the first floor; elaborate iron balustrades with brass
inlaid handrail; galleries at first floor level with Ionic columns; coved and
coffered ceiling with tinted glazing; decorative anthemion frieze, Vitruvian
scroll to frieze below galleries; at the north-west end is an 1814 organ by Flight
and Robson incorporating a barrel and 2 banks of pipes joined by a frieze, free
Greek Revival details. Panelled doors throughout the building, all with brass
door furniture. Staff dining room (morning room), in east corner: late C19 in
an Adam/Wyatt style with an enriched plaster ceiling a frieze; fireplace with
paired Corinthian columns. Patients sitting room (library): flat coffered
ceilings with highly elaborate frieze and cornice. Tapestry (drawing) room, in
north corner: highly elaborate ceiling with central round panel flanked by
rectangular panels; elaborate gilded plasterwork and highly decorative architraves
to doors and windows. Room on centre of north-west side has a fine geometrical
pattern parquetry floor; decorative ceiling with a large circular centre and much
anthemion; elaborate friezes and architraves; retains original square chandelier
or gasolier of brass with etched glass. School room, in west corner, (dining
room): rectangular ceiling with vine leaves and grapes; figure frieze; large
plain marble fireplace with guilloche moulding, animal heads and claws to piers.
(N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England : North Somerset and Bristol, 1958).

Listing NGR: ST5431674724

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Leigh Court at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q6519563

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

• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)