Architects report on significant eighteenth-Century houses
— 08 Aug 2024
The West front of Stourhead, Wiltshire ©National Trust Images John Hammond
Stourhead, Wiltshire ©National Trust Images Chris Lacey
The exterior of the house at Stourhead, Wiltshire ©National Trust Images Dennis Gilbert
View of the Staircase Hall, and the Italian Room at Stourhead, Wiltshire ©National Trust Images Dennis Gilbert
Close view of the pediment on the West front of Stourhead, Wiltshire ©National Trust Images John Hammond
The south front of the house at Antony, Cornwall ©National Trust Images Andrew Butler
Visitors in the garden and north front of Antony House, Cornwall ©National Trust Images James Dobson
The colonnade of the East Wing in the Entrance Forecourt at Antony, Cornwall ©National Trust Images James Dobson
As a member of a panel of Consultants for the National Trust in the Southwest, Jonathan Rhind Architects have been asked to report on the condition of two grade I listed, eighteenth century houses in the National Trust portfolio.
Stourhead House, in the Wiltshire countryside, is an early example of the Palladian style in England. Designed by architect Colen Campbell in 1718, two wings were added in 1785 and the central interiors reconstructed following a fire in 1905.
The National Trust commissioned a Conservation Condition Report – a report format developed by the Trust for their most significant properties – to diagnose persistent defects and identify a phased programme of conservative repair projects for this significant building. The report was undertaken at the end of 2023, with future conservation works planned as a result.
From Wiltshire to Cornwall, the Antony Estate lies on the banks of the River Lynher. Also built in the early eighteenth century, the house is one of the finest in the Queen Anne style in the Southwest. Set within a Humphrey Repton landscape, Antony House and its remarkable collection embody three centuries of continuous occupation by the Carew Pole family.
The Conservation Condition Report undertaken for the National Trust encompasses the house, wings and stables to provide a detailed plan for ongoing maintenance and repairs over short, medium and longer term periods.
With these condition reports in place, the National Trust can plan and undertake a continuous programme of repairs and maintenance in a timely manner to ensure that these important houses are kept in good condition.
Thumbnail image ©National Trust Images Dennis Gilbert
