Listed Building: TURTON VILLA (468010)

WEYMOUTH SY6779SE TURTON STREET 873-1/20/401 (East side) 18/06/70 No.2 Turton Villa II Includes: Turton Villa GLOUCESTER STREET. House in row, originally detached. Early to mid C19. Ashlar, some rubble, slate roof. A low Tudoresque 'villa', overshadowed by later building, with single-storey front. EXTERIOR: 2-storey back, and a central square tower incorporating chimney flues. The front range of reception rooms has an entrance lobby with 2 rooms to the left, and one to the right, but all capable of being linked as one space through wide double doors. The stair rises opposite the lobby, from a transverse central passage, with a top-lit dining room to the left; a very small courtyard helps to light the interior. There is an external passage access from Gloucester Street, with contemporary stone gateway. To Turton Street are 3 windows and the doorway. The windows are large 2-light stone chamfer-mullion casements with transom, but to the left of the door, in a bay slightly brought forward, is a central splayed light to a central mullion. A pair of segmental pointed doors with margin-pane side-lights is set in deep moulded reveals. A moulded label runs across the front below the parapet with saddle-back coping. Above the door is a recessed square panel with the date 1771; this does not correspond with the architectural detail of the building, which is more likely of c1840-1860. To the right is a lofty stack, with high crown and crenellations. Set back, to the left, is the tower in rubble with dressings. The back wall is in rubble to a height of approx 2m, raised in painted brickwork. INTERIOR: retains most of the original fittings in the front range. Most of the original pine doors have 2 or 3 narrow pointed lights in the upper half. The lobby is lined with pine panelling above a match-boarded dado, and has a large pair of glazed and panelled doors in moulded surrounds in 3 directions. The square room to the right has a marble fireplace to 4-centred arch, and match-boarded dado. The 2 rooms to the left have been opened to one by removal of the intermediate partition. 2 marble fireplaces and hearths remain, a small door gives to the central passage, and there is an original fitting to a wide and high recess at the party wall. The large Dining Room has a rectangular skylight with raking sides and panelled soffit. The landing to the straight stair has balusters turned on square. Stone stairs descend to a cellar, which traditionally is said to have been a secret passage to Gloucester Lodge, Esplanade (qv). This was reputedly a lodge for George III's mistress, built on what was at that time part of the extensive garden to the Lodge. However, if this is so the present building must be a replacement for an earlier form, as it seems unlikely to be earlier than about 1840. It is of considerable interest in the context of later brick speculative developments all around. Listing NGR: SY6793079361

Record last edited

Sep 29 2009 4:34AM