Basildon Park Basildon, England

Text courtesy of Historic England. © Crown Copyright, reprinted under the Open Government License.

SU 67 NW BASILDON LOWER BASILDON

2/20 Basildon Park

14.4.67 I

Mansion. 1776-83, by John Carr in the Palladian style; some alterations and internal details by J.B. Papworth in 1839-42.3:3:3:7:3:3:3 bay rhythm. Centre block: ashlar with plinth, rusticated basement with raised band above, first floor cill string and string below cornice. Central tetrastyle Ionic portico in antis over slightly projecting basement beneath with triangular pediment above. Dentil cornice and parapet to hipped slate roof with 6 stacks and central light well. 3 storeys comprising basement, piano nobile, and attic; 7 bays, glazing bar sashes. Attic windows with architraves, 3 in centre with 2-light casements; first floor windows with balustrading beneath,architraves and cornices. 3 central basement arches to loggia with paired Doric columns and pilasters, and panelled plaster ceiling with paterae and husks. Central half glazed double doors with fanlight, flanked by 2 arched glazing bar sashes. Twin internal staircases with wrought iron balustrade to portico with first floor balustrade and rich soffit including dentil cornice, paterae and guilloche ornament. Central half glazed double doors of circa 1840. Pavilions: ashlar with plinth, plat band above ground floor windows, first floor cill string and string below cornice. Dentil cornice with triangular pediment to slate roof with central ridge stack. Rectangular plan with recessed corners. 2 storeys; 3 bays, glazing bar sashes, those on first floor with balustrading beneath, and arched on ground floor. Screen Walls: 4 walls, flanking each pavilion. Ashlar with plinth and raised band below alternating solid and balustraded parapet. One storey; 3 bays, glazing bar sashes and central 6-panelled door with architrave and cornice. Rear elevation: centre block of 5 bays with central canted bay and balustraded parapet. Central first floor Venetian window with Ionic columns and antae supporting frieze and cornice. Central ground floor half glazed double doors. Screen walls with 2 niches flanking central 6-panelled door with architrave and triangular pediment. 6 bay side elevations to centre block with bracketed cornices to first floor windows. 4 bay side elevations to pavilions. Interior: Neo-classical Carr interior with some later work by Papworth. Good C18 plasterwork, probably largely by William Roberts, Some fittings come from Panton Ball, Lincolnshire, by John Carr, replacing those sold after 1928. The principal rooms include; Entrance Hall: paired Corinthian pilasters supporting rich frieze and sumptuously plastered coved ceiling. Wall plasterwork includes griffons and military trophies above doors. Fireplace doors, and doorcases from Panton. The Librarv: rich frieze with griffons. Door surround, dado rail, fireplace and bookcases from Panton. Staircase Hall: double height space lit from above by 2 lunettes on each side, the flat roof replacing Carr's groin vault after 1939-45 war. Rich triglyph frieze and cornice with guttae. 5-flight square well staircase, bracketed balcony with decorated plaster soffit, and 2 arches to groin vaulted corridor on third. Wrought iron balustrading with medallions. Wall plasterwork with griffons. Dining Room: segmental tunnel vault, rich frieze, panelled ceiling, and screen of Corinthian columns to west. Stuccoed wall panels with facsimilies of original grisaille allegories by Theodore de Bruyn , later Papworth paintings having been removed after 1928. Doorcases and chimneypiece from Panton. Octagon Drawing Room: completed by Papworth with rich panelled ceiling. Venetian window with Roman Doric columns. Green Drawing Room: Carr ceiling and cornice. Doors, doorcases and chimney piece from Panton. Lower Hall: Corinthian columns, replacing Doric columns as loggia, removed after 1928. Flagged floor, panelled ceiling and frieze by Carr. Billiard Room: octagonal with Ionic columns replacing Corinthian columns removed after 1928. Frieze by Carr. Bedro