Terling Place Terling, England

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TL 7714 TERLING

11/105 Terling Place

2.5.53 GV II*

Mansion. 1722-3 by John Johnson for John Strutt, M.P., altered c.1818-24. Grey brick in Flemish bond, with limestone dressings, roofed with slate. Originally of double-pile plan facing SE with 2 internal stacks symmetrically arranged, of 3 storeys. Altered 1818-24, probably by Thomas Hopper, for Colonel Joseph Strutt. 2-storey extensions to the SW elevation enclosed a recessed porch and converted this to the entrance elevation. Long wings of one storey and attics extend obliquely forwards (to NNE and WSW). NW elevation, 4-window range of early C19 sashes of 12 lights with crown glass, and on the second floor of the main block 7 sashes of 6 lights. Double half-glazed doors with niche to each side in recessed porch, with 2 Tuscan columns and entablature. Moulded cornice and plain parapet to, entrance wings, modillioned cornice and plain parapet to main block. Low-pitched hipped roof concealed by parapet. SE (garden) elevation, 2:3:2 range of sashes of 12 lights with crown glass, and on the second floor 7 sashes of 6 lights, all with flat arches of gauged brick. Central part set slightly forward, the original central door altered to a window, with 3 round arches with moulded keystones, and on the first floor 4 Ionic attached columns (forming part of the 1818-24 alterations), stone band below sills of first-floor windows, and modillioned pediment and cornice and plain parapet. A mid-C19 conservatory, with glazed margins joins the formerly freestanding W wing to the main house. The side elevations have 5-window ranges of sashes of 12 lights with crown glass, and on the second floor 5 sashes of 6 lights; similar band, cornice and parapet. Central staircase hall altered c.1818-24 to form a 2-storey neo-Greek saloon, with gallery all round, and bowed wrought iron balustrade. Below the balustrade a frieze of plaster casts of the Elgin marbles by Westmacott. Mahogany panelled doors, consoled doorcases, the latter marbled by W.M. Leake, c.1845. On the gallery, wooden Ionic columns (and one of cast iron, forming a flue), also marbled. Dished and moulded ceiling, panelled ceilings around gallery. A simple dog-leg stair outside the saloon replaces the original E-plan stair, re-using Johnson's wrought iron scrolled and foliated balusters with honeysuckle terminals. White marble fireplaces, low-relief plasterwork with husk garlands, honeysuckle and paterae, dentilled cornices and folding shutters. This is Johnson's first known domestic building, the first brick laid 30 March 1772, the house occupied 26 November 1773 (Nancy Briggs, unpublished lecture to the Georgian Group, 1983, and Essex Record Office, D/DRa E.45). The third Lord Rayleigh established a laboratory in the W wing (since gutted by fire) and there first identified argon in 1894, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Science in 1904.

Listing NGR: TL7736714625