Listed Building record MDO1671 - Melbury House, Melbury Sampford

Melbury House: a two-storey house with attics, the older walls being of ashlar face rubble, and the late 17th century of brick faced with Ham Hill or Portland stone. The reversion of the property was acquired in 1500 and extensive building took place before 1540. In 1692 further alterations and additions were made and in 1872 and 1884-5 respectively the library and the large range to the west were built. A remarkable feature of the early 16th century is the lantern tower. The stables,(see ST 50 NE 22) north of the house, are late 17th century with modern additions. The "Turret", (see ST 50 NE 23) a garden house south west of the main block, is probably 16th century with 18th century Gothic additions. (2)

The house is in an excellent state of repair and is outstanding. (3)

No change since field report of 22 11 71. (4)

10 and 12/2C I Melbury House. Large house of irregular plan in stone of various dates but mainly C.16 and C.17. (5-6)

No change. (7)

Country House in parkland. C.1530 quadrangular house with Prospect Tower built for Giles Strangways, by Ham Hill school of masons. C.1692 rebuilding of east façade of house, and remodelling of north and south facades between the C16 gable-ends, building of inner corridors in courtyard by Mr Watson for Sir Thomas Strangways. Large rectangular courtyard to north of house has only its west range surviving. 1872, orangery removed on south side; Library and connecting link to mansion built by Salvin for 5th Earl of Ilchester. 1884-5 great enlargement of house to west, with extensive service range servants' courtyard and visitor accommodation in south-west tower by G Devey. Late C20 restoration under Bertram and Fell. Rubble-stone walls with Ham Hill ashlar facing, C16. Late C17 walls are of brick, faced with Ham Hill ashlar, cramped to it, and with Portland stone dressings. Later extensions: Ham stone ashlar walls. Roofs are mainly of Welsh slate, with lead sheeting across flat tops. Listed Grade I. (8)

A 'remarkable house' in perpendicular style with a tower dating to circa 1540. The house was remodelled in the late 17th century. (9)

Deer park, with woodland and agricultural land of c.300ha, with central landscape and gardens of c.15ha. C18 landscaping, with extensive C19 and C20 planting of rare trees and shrubs. Melbury House enlarged c.1530, for Sir Giles Strangways, enlarged and remodelled 1692 by (John) Watson for Sir Thomas Strangways. Additions 1872 by Anthony Salvin for the 5th Earl of Ilchester, and further additions by G Devey 1884-85. Late C20 restoration by Bertram and Fell. Stables to north, late C17, with additions 1801-02 by John Brettingham. Hexagonal turret 30m to west C16, altered c.1762. Walled kitchen gardens, C18, 120m west of house. Chapel of St Mary, 60m to east-south-east, forms a visual part of the landscape scheme. Lion Lodge with late C17 Lion Gates, to south of house. Chetnole Lodge, 1870, 900m to north-east of house. (10)

<1> 1899, Country Life, 209 (Article in serial). SDO17779.

<2> Oswald, A, 1935, Country Houses of Dorset (Monograph). SDO17780.

<3> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England, 1952, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume I (West), 164-167 (Monograph). SDO97.

'(2) Melbury House (Plates 140, 142, 144) and stables, stands 50 yards W.N.W. of the church. The House is mainly of two storeys with attics; the older walls are of local rubble, ashlar-faced; the late 17th-century walls are of brick faced with Ham Hill stone and with some dressings of Portland stone; the roofs are covered with slates and lead. The reversion of the propertey was acquried by Henry Strangways (ob. 1504) in 1500, and his son Sir Giles the elder built extensively here before Leland's visit of about 1540; Leland states that he built the lofty tower and used here three thousand loads of stone from Hamden quarry. This work included the staircase-block with the tower above it, the W. wing and three wings round the courtyard to the E. and a corridor-range along its W. side. In 1692 Thomas Strangways sen. Remodelled the E. front and the central portions of the main ranges on the N. and S. of the courtyard and added ranges on the E., N. jand S. of the courtyard; this work was from the designs of a certain Mr. Watson (Horace Walpole in 1762 says, of Thomas Sutton); these alterations probably extended into the 18th century and Susanna Strangways-Horner, daughter of Thomas Stranways sen., who succeeded her brother in 1726, is known to have repaired and beautified the house. The house was greatly enlarged in the 19th century by the fifth Earl of Ilchester who added the great library from the designs of Salvin in 1872 and the large range to the W. in 1884-5 from the desigs of G Devey.

The early 16th-century house possesses a highly remarkable feature in its lantern tower, and there are interesting 16th, 17th and 18th-century fittings.' {1}

<4> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1962 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 57650600) Melbury House (NR)

<5> Quinnell, N V, Various, Field Investigators Comments NVQ (Unpublished document). SDO11903.

<6> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset (Monograph). SWX1290.

<7> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<8> English Heritage, 1984-1987, Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England: Dorset, PART 12 (Monograph). SWX1383.

<9> McOmish, D S, Various, Field Investigators Comments DSM (Unpublished document). SDO16333.

<10> Chandler, J, and Cox, P, 1997, Proposed New Swimming Pool at Melbury Sampford House, Melbury Sampford, Dorset. Archaeological and Historical Assessment (Unpublished document). SDO12361.

<11> National Record of the Historic Environment, 195692 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jan 27 2025 1:48PM