Listed Building: WARMWELL HOUSE (105959)

SY 78 NE WARMWELL - 7/67 Warm-well House 26.1.56 I GV Manor House in grounds. Early C17, probably by Sir John Trenchard soon after 1618. The south east part of the house may include the remains of an earlier building. The north west wing was much altered in C18 and C19. Early and mid C19 restoration of the south part of the house. Coursed limestone rubble walls with ashlar facing to the south front. Roofs are covered with stone slates and tiles, with gables to ends of ranges, and Dutch gables to the south east. Square stone stacks, two on each gable coping, circular stacks stand up on from the step of the Dutch gables. Plan: unusual trivadial plan, with entrance to south east between two canted wings, see R.C.H.M. Dorset II, p. 328 for the plan and comparisons. 2½ storeys. S E front has 5 windows, found: 3 : 2 : 2 : 3; front: 3 : 2 : 4 : 2 : 5, gables: 2 : 3 : 2 (blocked), chamfered stone mullions, transomed on the ground floor. Moulded plinth and moulded string courses above the windows. Iron and metal casements with glazing-bars. In the middle is an open recessed porch entered by an arcade of 2 round arches enriched and partly moulded springing from a Tuscan central column and attached half columns at the responds. The arcade is framed by half columns and with a de- based entablature. Inserted tablet over carved with crest of Richards. Inner doorway has a four centred head and continuous stop chamfered jambs and is flanked by shell headed niches. The north east end of the house is irregular with three straight sided gables at different angles. The stair-case wing under the middle gable has a doorway with four centred head and mullioned windows mostly restored. The north west wing has the external wall to the east patched and heightened in C18 brick. Rendered stack at the gable end. Two storeys. 3 windows, 2 light with moulded labels, of early C19, though a reset doorway recessed behind an archway is C17. Interior: between entrance hall and stair hall is a reset stone archway, C17, semi circular and enriched with resettes and springing from enriched imposts; jambs moulded with 3 rolls, probably medieval. Main stair case, stone with stone balustrading between rectangular piers supporting columns which carry the upper floor. Dining room has a restored late C16 oak fireplace with flanking terminal figures and enriched mantel shelf and ornamental divided into 3 bays by winged terminal figures two holding shields, centre panel has a small picture. Oak Room: reset C17 panelling. Fireplace has a restored arched stone head, flanked by pairs of oak ionic columns. Long gallery has early C17 panelling with enriched frieze and modern cornice. Doorways with moulded oak frame Drawing Room remodelled in early C19. (R.C.H.M. Dorset II, p. 327 (2)). Listing NGR: SY7537585921

Record last edited

Sep 9 2019 10:05AM