Description

TL 23 NE GUILDEN MORDEN ICKNIELD WAY
(North-west side)

7/129 Odsey House

GV I

Small country house. Circa 1723 for the Second Duke of Devonshire. Palladian
house with interior alterations similar to designs by William Kent possibly
for the Third Duke of Devonshire. Later alterations c.1795 and late C19. Red
brick with lighter red brick and gauged brick dressings. Plain tiled roofs.
Three storeys and semi basement. Double pile plan with symmetrical main
facades of four bays, with central two bays to rear elevation slightly
advanced and pedimented. Side entrance to south-west, and rear entrance at
ground level with covered passage to rear kitchen (listed separately).
Parapets with plain stone copings; raised brick band with soffit moulding,
below third storey windows and continuous across large side stacks; deep
brick plinth with segmental arched basement windows each with original
six-paned hung sashes. South-east facade: Four bays with fenestration
replaced c.1795 and ground storey windows lowered; graded windows of
eighteen, twelve and nine-paned hung sashes recessed in painted plastered
reveals and with flat gauged brick arches. South-west entrance to north of
stack approached by stone steps with plain wrought iron railings; doorcase
with fluted wooden pilasters and columns supporting a Doric entablature and
pediment; eight-raised and fielded panelled door. North west facade:
Original fenestration, brick pediment broken by central round arched hung sash
window, tripartite hung sash stair window with round headed central light, and
two ground floor bulls eye windows flanking passage; single recessed bays on
either side with hung sash windows. Interiors: The original ground floor
plan is retained with connected drawing room and dining room to the south-east
and with a rear staircase hall between the entrance lobby arid small north-east
room. Dining room with ovolo moulded and fielded panelling of two heights
with moulded dado and cornice, (the chimney piece is introduced), similar
panelling to drawing room but with an enriched modillion and dentil cornice
part of an Ionic pilastered chimney composition with a flanking round headed
blind cupboard and matching cupboard to right hand with Corinthian pilasters
supporting a round headed arch and painted shell interior. The details of the
pilasters and cornices are similar to known work by William Kent. Plain ovolo
panelling to staircase hall with staircase rising in straight flights to the
attic floor; the lower flights, originally closed string, have been modified
and rebuilt with alternately turned and twisted balusters to each tread, and
with richly carved spandrels. First floor rooms slightly rearranged with
original plan retained in north-east room with panelled 'porched' entrance and
small closet. The rooms are entered from a lobby with a wide segmental arch
flanked by Doric pilasters. The bedrooms have plain ovolo panelling dados and
cornices. The second floor rooms have C19 panelling. Staircase to semi
basement and rear kitchen passage similar to first floor. Basement with two
heated south-east rooms, a dairy and two brick vaulted store rooms. The
house and open courtyard were added to the existing Odsey stables and jockey
house; Odsey races were revived during the reign of George II.

RCHM report 1950
VCH Vol VIII Cambridgeshire Odsey
VCH Yol I Hertfordshire Odsey Races
Fordham, G Notes on the Hundred and Manor or Grange of Odsey

Listing NGR: TL2953038053

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17528243

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

• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Warwickshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings