Listed Building record MDO23510 - Bryanston School, Bryanston

A very large loosely neo-Baroque country house, now school, built between 1889 and 1894, by R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman. Walls of red brickwork in English bond with Portland stone ashlar dressings and a hipped slate roof.

Bryanston House was built in the 1890s by Norman Shaw in the grand classical manner, with a great central block inspired by Coleshill in Berkshire, and lower wings extending northwest to flank a large forecourt. It is one of the largest country mansions to be built in modern times and was constructed for the second Viscount Portman. It was occupied by the Portman family for 30 years and became a boys' school in 1927.

An earlier house, which stood about 50 yards south of the old church (ST 80 NE 16), was demolished in 1778 when it was replaced by a house designed by James Wyatt, which probably stood on the site now occupied by the church of 1898 (ST 80 NE 44). It was pulled down in 1890.

(For Gateway see ST 80 NE 41; Service Block, ST 80 NE 106; Stables ST 80 NE 107) <2,3>

Bryanston School. Grade I. <4>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey Map 6in, 1969 (Map). SWX1540.

(ST 871074) Bryanston School

<2> Royal Commission on Historic Monuments, 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 2, 47 (Monograph). SDO136.

<3> Newman, J, and Pevsner, N, 1972, The Buildings of England: Dorset, 118-121 (Monograph). SWX1290.

<4> DOE (HHR), 1985, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: North Dorset, 11 (Scheduling record). SDO17644.

<5> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BB67/07968 (Index). SDO14738.

The entrance front at Bryanston, from the north-west: This country house, now a school, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman between 1889-1894.

<6> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15432 (Index). SDO14738.

The entrance front at Bryanston, from the north-west: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<7> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15433 (Index). SDO14738.

The garden front at Bryanston: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<8> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15434 (Index). SDO14738.

The garden front at Bryanston with a formal pond in the foreground, seen from the south: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<9> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15435 (Index). SDO14738.

Looking along the garden terrace at Bryanston: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<10> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15438 (Index). SDO14738.

The dining room at Bryanston: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<11> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15439 (Index). SDO14738.

The salon at Bryanston House looking towards the fireplace: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<12> Historic England, Historic England Archive, BL15440 (Index). SDO14738.

The ballroom at Bryanston, showing neo-Adam style decorative plasterwork: This country house, erected 1889-94, was designed by architect R Norman Shaw for Lord Portman for whom the photograph was also taken. In 1927 the house became the boys' school, Bryanston School.

<13> National Record of the Historic Environment, 205472 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Jun 30 2022 2:58PM