Description

CHARMINSTER HERRISON HOSPITAL
SY 69 SE

7/26 Herrison House

4.10.89 II

Hospital building, now principally administration offices. c,1904. Red brick
with cream terracotta dressings and decorative features, slate roofs. A very
complex rambling plan with main centre block and lower wings forming very flat
U-plan facing south, and a second courtyard to north; detail to south is richer
than that on north side, although there is a consistency of careful detailing
throughout. Main south front is in 1:5:1:5:1 bays with series of modelled Dutch
gables to stone copings and finials; series of 2-storey canted bays in 3-storey
block. All windows have terracotta mullions and transoms, behind which slide
the plate glass sashes. Terracotta bands horizontally at plinth, cill, and
lintol levels carried right through at ground and first floors. Central
brought-forward gable unit has richly modelled terracotta scrolled ornamentation
with clock face, and small flanking octagonal pepper-pot turrets; centre has a
3-storey canted bay window. The lintol heads are formed in terracotta with
joggled joints series of brick ridge stacks. Two-storey wings are brought
forward at each end, similar Dutch gables; that to right with extended one-
storey block with flat roof, in consistent detail but possibly later addition.
Long return. East arm with projecting block, all 2-storey, many prominent ridge
stacks. The back, in simple detail, has projecting square stair turret, at
bottom of which is glazed porch in facets, with glazed roof, above door now
(1989) used as principal entry. Interior: simple but consistent detailing, with
modelled painted dado panelling, painted wood fire surrounds with mantel
shelves, plain chamfered segmental-headed openings, panelled doors in reveals
and architraves, and various glazed doors and panels to segmental heads, mostly
part of the original Edwardian detailing. The entrance hall on the north side
has polished hardwood panelling and doors, some Art-Nouveau coloured glass; 2
scagliola columns carry arches to flat ceiling with rectilinear sub-divisions.
Stair, off left in turret, dog-leg to spine wall. Detailing remains mostly
unaltered throughout the building, being in simplified form at the top level.
The only significant late intrusions are some fire doors, and fluorescent strip
lighting. A somewhat incoherent building in plan, probably reflecting a series
of plan elements, but very vigorously and well worked out; the whole a remark-
ably unchanged example of design stemming from the great country houses of the
Edwardian era.

Listing NGR: SY6763694849

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q26552305

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)