Listed Building record MDO13546 - Eastbury House, Tarrant Gunville

Eastbury house is of two and three storeys, with walls mainly of ashlar and with slate-covered roofs. Originally the stable range to a mansion designed by Vanbrugh and constructed between 1717-38. The mansion was demolished between 1775-82 and the service wing converted to a country house. It comprises two parallel ranges.

EASTBURY HOUSE (93211270), of two and of three storeys, with walls mainly of Greensand ashlar and with slate-covered roofs is a surviving fragment of the splendid mansion designed by Vanbrugh for George Dodington and his nephew George Bubb, afterwards Lord Melcombe, and erected between 1717 and 1738. On Lord Melcombe's death in 1762 the house passed to Lord Temple who, unable to find either a buyer or a tenant for what then was considered an eyesore, demolished the greater part, between c. 1775 and 1782.

The present house is formed from part of two parallel ranges, formerly stables, which stood on the N. of Vanbrugh's forecourt. Early in the 19th century the house was acquired by J. J. Farquharson, whose descendants still own it. From 1800 to 1805 it was occupied by Thomas Wedgwood, a son of the great potter. Other surviving elements of Vanbrugh's work include the arch on the W. of the former stable court, the main gateway of the park, the cellar under the octagonal 'Eating Room' on the E. of the former kitchen court, and earthwork remains of the former gardens. <1, 3>

Eastbury House. Service ranges to the mansion, now a country house. Grade I. <6>

Eastbury was Vanbrugh's largest country house excepting Blenheim and Castle Howard. <4>

A rapid examination of air photography <8.1> suggests the presence of a ditched feature with causeway, apparently aligned with the formal garden of Eastbury House, and thus probably part of the landscape park. <8>

The feature noted by source <8> appears to be marked on OS maps at ST 936 123 as a pecked ring (indicating a slight feature). <5>

Cecil, David, 1985, Some Dorset Country Houses: A Personal Selection (Monograph). SDO20690.

<1> DOE (HHR), 1954, List of Buildings of Special Historic or Architectural Interest: Blandford Rural District, 16 (Scheduling record). SDO17701.

(ST 93211269) Eastbury House (NAT)

<2> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1963 (Map). SWX1540.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1972, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume IV (North), 90-3 (Monograph). SDO99.

(2) EASTBURY HOUSE (93211270), of two and of three storeys, with walls mainly of greensand ashlar and with slate-covered roofs (Plate 70), is a surviving fragment of the splendid mansion designed by Vanbrugh for George Dodington and his nephew George Bubb, afterwards Lord Melcombe, and erected between 1717 and 1738. On Lord Melcombe's death in 1762 the house passed to Lord Temple who, unable to find either a buyer or a tenant for what then was considered an eyesore, demolished the greater part, between c.1775 and 1782 (Plate 71).
For descrptions and illustrations of the former house see Colen Campbell, Vitruvius Britannicus, III, pls. 15-19; Bishop Pococke, Travels through England , II 138-40 (Camden Soc., xliv,1889); Hutchins III, 454-8; Oswald, 149-153; Laurence Whistler, Country Life, 1948, 1386-9. Campbell's plan is reproduced on plate 71.
The present house is formed from part of two parallel ranges, formerly stables, which stood on the N. of Vanbrugh's forecourt. Early in the 19th century the house was aquired by J.J. Far, whose descendants still own it. From 1800 to 1805 it was occupied by Thomas Wedgewood, a son of the great potter.
Other surviving elements of Vanburgh's work include the arch on the W. of the former stable court (Plate 80), the main gateway of the park (Plate 70), the celler under the octagonal 'Eating Room' on the E. of the former kitchen court, and the earthwork remains of the former garden.

<4> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1290.

<5> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 scale map, 1983 (Map). SDO17396.

<6> DOE (HHR), 1985, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: North Dorset District, Oct 85, 16 (Scheduling record). SDO17732.

<7> English Heritage, 1984-1987, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1383.

<8> Miller, Andrew, 1993, RCHME: AP Primary Recording Project, 02-FEB-1993 (Unpublished document). SWX1708.

<8.1> National Monuments Record, NMR 4502: 10; NMR 4595: 20-3 (Aerial Photograph). SDO19199.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, 882980 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: Eastbury Gardens, Eastbury House/plan. Scope & Content: Bibliographic References : 1) Monument No. 2.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, RCH01/097 (Index). SDO14738.

Object Title: Inventory: Dorset IV (North). Scope & Content: The collection contains original material and publication proofs relating to the RCHME Inventory for Dorset, Volume IV, 1972. The material includes field notes, surveys and excavation notes.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 210282 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Sep 3 2024 2:56PM