Description

SU 12 NE ODSTOCK LONGFORD PARK

5/141 Longford Castle

23/3/60

GV I

Large house. 1591 by Thomas Gorges, C18 remodelling including James
Wyatt's 1796 hexagon scheme, for 2nd Earl of Radnor, partially
executed by D. A. Alexander 1802-17, restoration and additions of
1870's by A. Salvin for 4th Earl of Radnor. Chilmark stone with
flint bands, Westmorland slate roofs, lead domes to stair turrets,
ashlar stacks. Elizabethan triangular plan, two towers and linking
wings added C19 to east. 3-storey, 11-window symmetrical entrance
front to north-west, restored by Salvin. Central round-arched
door, 5-bay loggias to ground and first floors with recessed second
floor over, to sides are projecting bays of 2 windows with central
niches, linked by recessed bay to 3-storey flanking round towers,
the left one altered by Salvin with basement, the right original.
All cross windows, decorative features include caryatids, string
courses, pilasters and three Dutch gables. Circular stacks in
groups of five. Towers have battlemented parapets with stacks.
South or garden front entirely rebuilt by Salvin in C17 style,
1876; 3-storey, 9-window symmetrical front with flanking towers; 2
round-arched doors to left and right, cross windows to ground and
first floors, five 3-light mullioned windows to second floor,
string courses, two projecting bays with Dutch gables, central
recessed bay with balustraded parapet, tall square stacks with
circular stacks to flanking towers. Attached to right is one
storey, 2-window range by Salvin, linking south-east tower to
Alexander's east tower reduced by one storey in 1950's; windows to
both are mullioned and transomed. East and north ranges and north
tower by Alexander, altered by Salvin: Tower in banded stone and
flint, ranges are buff-coloured Flemish bond brick, 2-storey east
range with basement has cross windows, formerly 5 bays but partly
demolished after 1949 fire. North range is 5-bay service wing with
3-light mullioned and transomed windows, 2-storey and basement with
prominent glacis.
Interior: Original Elizabethan fittings include three circular
stair turrets with stone spiral stairs, in angles of central
triangular court, south-west tower has wainscot panelling and
carved stone overmantel depicting Vulcan to ground floor, former
chapel to first floor has fine ribbed vaulted ceiling with central
pendant, carved overmantel of c1600 depictng Orpheus, but from
elsewhere. C18 fittings in Picture Gallery of 1730s and Green
Drawing Room of c1741, fine Rysbrack fire surround and overmantel
of 1744 in ground floor of south-east tower, composite capitals to
black marble columns in chapel, by H. Barrell. Extensive refitting
and rearrangement of interior by Salvin; glass dome covering of
central court and wrought-iron galleries at first floor, many
marble fireplaces and fine 6-panelled mahogany doors, ribbed
plaster ceilings replacing C18 plasterwork. Original hall was in
position of present billiard room, to right of front door.
Gorges's house completed by 1591 and probably influenced by
Tresham's Lodge at Rushton begun 1580. House depicted in series
of plans and drawings by Thacker in 1680s when owned by Lord
Coleraine, sold to Bouveries in 1717 and remained with them until
present day. Surrounding park partly landscaped by Capability
Brown. (J. Cornforth, Country Life Annual 1968, N. Pevsner, The
Buildings of England: Wiltshire, 1975, Unpublished records of RCHM
(England, Salisbury).

Listing NGR: SU1719226723

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Longford Castle at Wikipedia
• Longford Castle official website
• Wikidata Q6673827

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

• 
  Lancashire: Manchester and the South-East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Derbyshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Sheffield and the South (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Staffordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)