Description

WICKHAM SOUTHWICK ROAD
SU 51 SE
6/15 Rookesbury (formerly listed as
Rookesbury Park School)
6.3.67
II*

Mansion, now a school. 1824. Walls of stucco, with 'Greek' classical details;
plinth, moulded cornice below a blocking course (shallow parapet), wide pilasters
of small projection, architraves to window openings (with frieze and cornice to
the ground-floor). Hipped slate roof. Symmetrical treatment of the three main
two-storeyed facades; the west front elevation has a porch with a window at each
side, flanked by pilasters. Sashes in reveals. The porch projects with a window
at each side, the Portland stone front part having four smooth columns, with
pilasters (coupled on the return elevation), a pediment, Ionic details, the
stone-flagged area finishing as three steps between flanking walls: within
there is a doorway with an architrave, a plain frieze, and a cornice supported
on console brackets, and half-glazed doors. The wider south elevation has a
central full-height bay of elliptical form, 1.1.3.1.1 windows. Sashes, those to
the ground floor of the outside bays being triple, in the centre a French window.
The east elevation has 2.1.2 windows, and from it to the north side extends a
lower two-storeyed service wing of 2.1.2 windows, linking to a taller crosswing:
behind the centre of the wing rises a clock tower with an upper bell stage,
square form with corner pilasters and pyramid leaded roof: in front of the wing
(and masking its lower part) is a curving verandah of 6 bays, with flat roof and
trellis columns. Neat C20 extensions have been built, within the L-shape of
the complete service block, and beyond the verandah. Inside, the main block
retains many original details, including a large entrance hall with niches, and
a stone floor.

Listing NGR: SU5799411303

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17541493

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

• 
  London 3: North West: North West v. 3 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Worcestershire Revised Edition (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey