History in Structure

Whitson Court including attached pavilions and garden walls

A Grade II* Listed Building in Goldcliff, Newport

More Photos »
Approximate Location Map
Large Map »

Coordinates

Latitude: 51.5577 / 51°33'27"N

Longitude: -2.9085 / 2°54'30"W

OS Eastings: 337114

OS Northings: 184709

OS Grid: ST371847

Mapcode National: GBR J9.F33R

Mapcode Global: VH7BM.J3RN

Plus Code: 9C3VH35R+3J

Entry Name: Whitson Court including attached pavilions and garden walls

Listing Date: 1 March 1963

Last Amended: 31 October 1996

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 2944

Building Class: Domestic

ID on this website: 300002944

Location: Set back on E side of road 800m S of electricity substation.

County: Newport

Town: Newport

Community: Goldcliff

Community: Goldcliff

Locality: Whitson

Traditional County: Monmouthshire

Tagged with: Building

Find accommodation in
Magor

History

Country house built for William Phillips (1752-1836). The house has traditionally been ascribed to John Nash, architect, who is known to have been in Newport in 1791 to design a bridge over the Usk. Whitson is recorded in 1791, by James Baker as "completing by Nash". Richard Suggett has drawn attention to similarities between Whitson and other known works by Nash. Against this, Thomas Lloyd has drawn attention to the similarity of Whitson Court with Coytrahen, Bettws, and Iscoed, St Ishmael's, both attributed to Keck; it remains possible that Whitson was begun by Keck, but completed by Nash. The house had a porch added, circa 1860's, and the front windows were reglazed shortly afterwards. Early in the C20, the house became a convent and Christian college, before reverting to private ownership.

Exterior

Three storeys, over vaulted basement. Brick with bathstone dressings, dentil cornice and parapet; slate roofs, brick chimneys. Five window W front, horned sash windows with marginal glazing bars; square windows to second floor, stone band course between first and ground floors; ground floor windows set in shallow arched recesses with bandcourse at springing of arches. Central Italianate porch in matching materials; paired Doric pilasters to ends, entablature with enriched decoration to parapet; round arched doorway with keystone. South (R) elevation of 3 windows, outer windows blind, to centre, 9-pane sash to second floor, 12-pane sash to first floor, steps up to doorway (modern door). Rear has 4 (asymmetrical) windows to second floor; 5 (asymmetrical) windows to first floor. On ground floor, steps up to central doorway with wrought-iron porch, to L, square bay window (early C20?), to R, tripartite sash window.

Main block of house links via brick court walls to N and S service pavilions, aligned E-W. South pavilion (Stables), brick on grey stone foundations, hipped slate roof, brick chimneys, each end has shallow arched recess with blind window, long sides have central archway through to courtyard, round window above; S side has blind arcade to ground floor (later glazing). North pavilion similar to S but partially ruinous to rear. Low rear walls to E of house in brick with stone gatepiers, and iron railings.

Interior

The house is built on vaulted basement (flooded at time of inspection). Interior retains much historic character including virtually all its plaster cornices and friezes, and contemporary classicising fireplaces to most of principal rooms and some bedrooms, as well as most of original doors. Hall with archway to apsidal stair-hall with top-lit Geometrical Stair with stick banisters, camber-headed doorway beneath stairs. Arches to lobbies off which are corridor rooms (currently small kitchen and store-room), and principal rooms. In SW corner is Drawing room (wall between room and hall removed). In NW corner is Dining room. In SE corner Morning room, fireplace made up from copies of bas-reliefs of classical scenes. In NE corner is former Kitchen. Rear stair C19 Jacobethan. Landing has stick balusters to stairs, cornice and fluted frieze to light above stairs which has modern glazing.

Reasons for Listing

Graded II* as fine example of smaller country house.

External Links

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

Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Whitson Lodge
    Approximately 300m S of Whitson Court
  • II Whitson Farm
    On W side of road behind Parish Reen.
  • II Great Newra
    About 500m S of junction with Broadstreet Common.
  • II Barn at Great Newra
    About 100m SW of farmhouse, which is about 500m S of junction with Broadstreet Common.
  • II* Whitson Church
    In churchyard reached by drive approximately 300m E of junction with Whitson Common Road.
  • II Church of St Mary Magdalene
    To rear of Farmers' Arms public house, in churchyard with stump of medieval cross, and C19 chest and table tombs.
  • II Samson Court
    To W of road, near junction with Clifton Common.
  • II Little Porton Byre
    Approximately 200m SE of church; to R of Little Porton farmhouse.

BritishListedBuildings.co.uk is an independent online resource and is not associated with any government department. All government data published here is used under licence. Please do not contact BritishListedBuildings.co.uk for any queries related to any individual listed building, planning permission related to listed buildings or the listing process itself.

British Listed Buildings is a Good Stuff website.