Description

CHELTENHAM

SO9422SE PROMENADE
630-1/13/757 (North West side)
12/03/55 No.133
Clarence House and attached railings

GV II*

Villa, now offices, and attached railings. c1830-34. This
house is sometimes attributed to JB Papworth, though probably
by John Forbes. Stucco over brick with concealed roof, 4 tall
stucco stacks to ends of main range, and iron balcony railings
probably by Marshalls with a motif derived from LN Cottingham.
PLAN: double-depth with left side hallway.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys with basement, 3 bays (the end bays are
lower) with first floor windows arranged 1:3:1, and
single-storey entrance bay set back to left. The central
3-window range breaks forwards and is taller. Stucco detailing
includes end Doric pilasters to ground and first floors to
central range; with single pilasters between windows to each
floor to ends, those to ground floor are Doric and surmounted
by shaped frieze forming elliptically-arched arcade over
windows and cornice; those to first floor are Ionic and are
surmounted by entablature. End Doric pilasters to lower ranges
through ground and first floors, with frieze and cornice. 6/6
sashes throughout, those to basement have margin-lights, all
in plain reveals and with sills; outer ground-floor windows
have floating cornices. Entrance to left: flight of 6
roll-edged steps to double 4-panel door with overlight, Doric
pilastered surround and architrave which continues to return.
Rear has first-floor band interrupted by full-height pilaster
strips between windows and to ends with entablature. Left
return has four first-floor windows, the outer windows blind,
otherwise 6/6 sashes.
INTERIOR: open-well staircase has rod and central bobbin
balusters and wreathed handrail; reputed to retain original
plasterwork including guilloche moulded cornice to hall.
Several marble fireplaces. Original joinery remains including
panelled shutters.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: continuous balcony to ground floor, main
range has scroll and anthemion motif, tent roofs on brackets
over, to each bay. Railings to sides of steps have heart and
anthemion motif; lyre and heart grille to right return.
Further railings with scroll motif abut front and rear for
short stretches.
HISTORICAL NOTE: The Promenade was laid out in 1818 as a
tree-lined avenue from the Colonnade in the High Street to the

Sherborne Spa (on the site of the Queen's Hotel (qv)), by 1826
it was a carriage drive with spacious gravelled walk on each
side. Buildings on the NW side were the first to be developed.
Shown on Merrett's Map of 1834.
Forms part of an outstanding group of villas overlooking
Imperial Gardens with Nos 121 and 123 (qv), 125 and 127 (qv)
and Nos 129 and 131 (qv) and The Queen's Hotel (qv),
Promenade.
(The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire: The Vale
and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 146; Williams GA: Guide
Book to Cheltenham: 1824-: 29; Chatwin A: Cheltenham's
Ornamental Ironwork: Cheltenham: 1975-1984: 29,40; Merrett HS:
Plan of the Town of Cheltenham: 1834-).

Listing NGR: SO9456022044

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17535702

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

• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Department for Communities Listed Historic Buildings of Northern Ireland: Information Guide for the 2nd Survey of Historic Buildings
• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)