Description

ELSTON LODGE LANE
SK 74 NW
(south side)
5/21 Elston Towers
8.5.80
G.V. II*
Country house and terrace. Dated 1872 for Robert Middleton.
Italian craftsmen employed on interiors. Yellow and red brick,
some ashlar, stucco, terracotta and iron. Slate roofs.
Decorative iron ridge cresting. Set on a plinth. West front, in
the main of yellow brick with 2 brick stacks each with 2
decorative stucco shafts. To the rear are similar stacks with
varying number of shafts. Single storey with 2 storey single
central bay. 5 bays. The outer single bays project and are
polygonal with pyramidal fishscale slate roofs, topped with
decorative iron lanterns, with decorative iron eaves supported on
decorative iron brackets and dentil eaves band. The single
central bay slightly projects and is gabled with ashlar coping,
kneelers and the remains of a single finial. A decorative iron
band follows the line of the gable. Central projecting closed
porch. Doorway, 2 steps up, with Tudor arched doorway with
double pointed arched panelled door. Jambs and arch decorated
with stylised leaves and central finial. Moulded surround with
decorative cusped panels in the spandrels. Over extends a raised
band, a frieze of small inset terracotta panels decorated with
fleuron, a band of dentil and a moulded cornice. Topped with
decorative iron cresting. To the right of the doorway is a
decorative iron bell pull. The side walls each have a single
tall similarly arched fixed light with ashlar lintel. To the
right of the porch is an ashlar stone inscribed "R.M. 1872". At
the angles of this bay and rising to the first floor are single
narrow decorative iron panels each consisting of 3 vertically
placed cusped blind arches, topped with a single quatrefoil. In
the single bays to the left and right are single canted windows
each with 2 sashes to the front and single sashes at each side.
All are Tudor arched and have lateral glazing bars. Separating
each are wooden pilaster strips decorated with recessed pointed
arched panels each with single central colonnette, all have
acanthus capitals. The shaped flush brick lintels have ashlar
blocks at the springing. Over is a raised band, a band of
billet, a frieze of foliate decorated terracotta panels and a
moulded cornice, these bands extend into the outer bays. The
canted bays are topped with decorative iron cresting. The outer
projecting bays each have 3 similar sashes. Each sash is set
into a recessed panel with raised brick quoins. Over the sash
and supported on single crocket capitals is a hood mould, the
spandrels decorated with cusped panels. Over the cornice band
are single rectangular panels containing several small inset
terracotta panels decorated with fleuron. Above, central bay
has a single Tudor arched 3 light window with intersecting
tracery, lateral and lozenge glazing bars, mask keystone, hood
mould and decorative label stops. Over is a single rectangular
panel with single quatrefoil and above is a shield inscribed
"R.M.". The south/right side, single storey plus attic, 4 bays,
has the band of billet, plain frieze and moulded cornice
continuing from the front. At the right angle are raised brick
quoins. To the left is a single sash and surround corresponding
to those of the polygonal bays. To the right is a single similar
smaller sash, further right is a doorway with projecting C20 wood
and perspex lean-to porch. Inner part glazed door with surround
and spandrel as the west front doorway. On the far right is a
single similar small sash. Over the porch is a gabled, ashlar
coped, dormer with single decorative iron finial and single Tudor
arched sash with lateral glazing bars. Over is a single fleuron
decorated panel. North side single storey plus attic, 5 bays
has the band of billet, plain frieze and moulded cornice
continuing from the west front. Left angle with raised brick
quoins. Central doorway with pointed arched panelled door and
surround and spandrel as the west front doorway. Either side are
2 sashes and surrounds corresponding to those of the polygonal
bays. Over the doorway is a single dormer corresponding to that
on the south side. Most sashes with coloured glass in the
lateral lights. Rear/east, in the main red brick with yellow
brick and terracotta dressings. Single left yellow brick stack
with 4 further stacks similar to those of the west front with
varying number of shafts. 2 storeys plus attic, 10 bays. Large
canted central bay with tall trefoil windows over doorway.
Various trefoil and Tudor arched windows symmetrically placed,
plus 2 ornate oriels on the first floor. First floor openings
with mask keystones. The west and north fronts are set on a
raised, ashlar coped, yellow brick terrace withbillet and raised
brick cornice. West front with central projecting Tudor arched
doorway with double pointed arched panelled door. Either side
are single lancets and further right and left single brick piers
stepped in once, rising above the wall and coped with ashlar.
Extending over the wall of the terrace andbetween the 2 piers is
a decorative iron railing. Either side are single sloping
walls, each with single recessed triangular panel and terminating
in a single similar smaller pier. Surmounting the walls are
similar railings and behind are single flights of stone steps
with small decorative iron gates at the top. The terrace
extends behind the steps on both sides with raised brick quoins
at the outer angles, similar piers and railings. Each section
of wall between the piers has a single Tudor arched panel
containing 7 small diminishing shouldered arched openings. The
north front has a flight of ashlar steps descending from the
doorway with decorative small double iron gate and similar side
walls and railings. The south front has a buttressed wall with
central Tudor arched doorway with iron hood mould and decorative
label stops. The wall continues eastwards being of red brick
with ashlar coping and terminates in a single ashlar coped pier.
A further single similar pier forms a gateway and the wall
continues eastwards from this terminating in the coach house,
listed as a separate item. The north side of the wall has
several similar smaller pilasters. Interior. Richly
decorated. 2 outer octagonal rooms lined from floor to ceiling
with marble. Contrasting marble pilasters with ornate plaster
capitals having moulded square and shaped panels to the walls in
between. The wooden conical ceilings terminate in single glazed
cupolas. There are 2 similar inner square rooms, however these
have panelled coffered wooden ceilings, one also coved with
gilded medallions. Central marble lined hall with gallery
linking attic rooms having ornate cast iron balustrade and Tudor
arched doorways leading off. Quatrefoil frieze, 4 of the
quatrefoil panels being larger and glazed with coloured lights.
Timber roof decorated at the east end with gilded stars. Most
main rooms with marble fireplaces and decorative panelled doors
with original fittings to doors and windows.

Listing NGR: SK7471548386

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17547787

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

• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Period property manual, victorian house manual 2 books collection set by ian rock
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)