Listed Building record MDO19114 - Colliton House, Colliton Park, Dorchester

Sixteenth- or seventeenth century, mainly Portland ashlar of 2 storeys, with a 1 storey south west wing (brick) and a 3 storey north east wing. Altered in the early eighteenth century (a datestone formerly on a demolished outhouse was of 1729).

Colliton House with two storeys and attics and walls of coursed stone was built on an L-shaped plan in the 17th century. A single storeyed south west wing of red-brick was added circa 1700 and the whole house was extensively remodelled in the second quarter of the 18th century; some modern additions were also made on the south. Colliton House, formerly the home of the Churchills, is now offices. <1>

Colliton House, a 16th or 17th century building altered in the early 18th century. The south elevation has three gables terminated by massive 18th century brick chimney-stacks. <2>

No change; name confirmed. See ground photograph. <3>



North front has 5 ranges of sashes with glazing bars and beaded stone architraves with keys: central 1st floor window has round arch with impost blocks and keystone. Wood entrance porch with beaded panelled sides. Shaped and voluted brackets and posts in front supporting entablature and pediment enriched with egg-and-dart. Door with enriched architrave and fielded panelling. Above porch is cartouche containing arms of the Churchill family, former owners. South elevation has 3 sixteenth- or seventeenth gables terminated by massive eighteenth century brick stacks which have blind arcading with ashlar imposts, archivolts and keys. North east wing has 4 ranges of sashes with glazing bars and moulded stone architraves with keystones. 1 eighteenth century rainwater head and down pipe. South west wing is red brick, has modillioned eaves cornice, hipped stone slate roof, and 2 windows with hollow chamfered stone mullions and casements with iron glazing bars (1 lead). Interior Ground floor room at east end has 1 panelled partition of apparently sixteenth century date. Very good early eighteenth century staircase with fluted composite columnar newels, alternately fluted and spiral fluted balusters, elaborately carved open string, wainscotting to dado level, ramped to muntins opposite newels: fielded panelling with fluted pilasters and enriched cornice at 1st semi-landing West ground floor room has arcaded recesses at west end. Room in south west wing has moulded plaster cornice and coved ceiling.

<1> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 117 (Monograph). SDO148.

<2> DOE (HHR), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Dorchester RD Addendum April 1976 (Scheduling record). SDO17430.

<3> Barton, J G, Various, Field Investigators Comments JGB, F1 JGB 10-OCT-80 (Unpublished document). SDO11900.

<4> Brebner P, 1997, Colliton House, Dorchester, Dorset. Historic Building Survey (Unpublished document). SDO9910.

<5> Brebner, P, 1997, Colliton House, Dorchester, Dorset. Historic Building Survey (Unpublished document). SDO9911.

<6> Brebner, P, 1997, Colliton House, Dorchester, Dorset. Historic Building Survey (Unpublished document). SDO9912.

<7> Brebner, P, 1997, Colliton House, Dorchester, Dorset. Historic Building Survey. Photographic Record (Unpublished document). SDO14436.

<8> National Record of the Historic Environment, 453512 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:36PM