Description

CHELTENHAM

SO9523SW PITTVILLE LAWN
630-1/6/672 (East side)
12/03/55 No.83
Dorset House (Shukutoku College)
(Formerly Listed as:
PITTVILLE LAWN
(East side)
No.83
Dorset House)

GV II

Villa. 1839-40. Architect probably John Forbes; built by
Edward Billings, builder, and sold to Honourable Andrew Ramsey
for »2,800 on 27.06.1842. Stucco over brick with slate roof
and iron verandah. L-shaped on plan, with projecting
pedimented main facade.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys on basement and with attics, 3 first-floor
windows, with 2-storey entrance bay set back to right. Stucco
detailing includes end Doric pillars and 3/4 engaged Ionic
columns in antis, the antae capitals being enriched with
egg-and-dart moulding surmounted by continuous dentil
entablature, and pediment to projecting range, with crowning
acanthus-carved urn finials; horizontal rustication to main
range up to first-floor windows which have tooled and eared
architraves on feet, and decorative bands above. 1/1
replacement sashes. Entrance to angle, steps to double 4-panel
studded doors with overlight with margin-lights, within
doorcase with fluted Ionic columns in antis with dentil
entablature. Attics have 3-pane lights. The front elevation is
repeated on the south (right) return with 2 attached fluted
Ionic columns in antis, 4 first-floor windows; central
breakforward has end pilasters; 6/6 sashes and blind openings,
all in tooled architraves. Conservatory at right has 6/6
sashes and Doric pilasters between, and with hipped roof.
INTERIOR: mainly intact with plasterwork including bold
acanthus frieze to drawing room, marble fireplaces, dogleg
staircase with rod and bobbin balusters.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: rear ground-floor verandah has anthemion
motif to uprights and openwork scalloped frieze.
HISTORICAL NOTE: this is the most ambitious and
architecturally notable of the fine group of villas at
Pittville Lawn. It was built as part of the development of
this area undertaken for Joseph Pitt in 1825-42, the general
layout being designed by the architect John Forbes. Home of
the patriotic Whinyates family who in the mid- and late-C19

provided 3 generals and one admiral from a family of 4 boys.
All the villas along Pittville Lawn form a distinguished
architectural group. Verey rightly considers this to be 'the
most ambitious of the neo-Greek villas'.
(Blake S: Pittville: 1824-1860: Cheltenham: 1988-: 16-17,72;
The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale
and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 152; Merrett HS: Plan
of the Town of Cheltenham: 1834-).

Listing NGR: SO9547823331

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26667129

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

• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
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  Pioneers of Modern Design: From William Morris to Walter Gropius (Penguin Art & Architecture)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
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  Liverpool: Pevsner City Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  The green guide for historic buildings: how to improve the environmental performance of listed and historic buildings
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)