British Listed Buildings

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Listing Text

WETHERAL WARWICK BRIDGE
NY 45 NE

6/166 Holme Eden Abbey
3. 9.73
II*

Abbey, formerly house. 1833-37 (date stone 1837 on building) by John Dobson for
Peter Dixon, Cotton manufacturer of Warwick Bridge. Tooled red sandstone
ashlar, moulded dressings, slate roof and numerous castellated stone chimney
stacks and parapets. 2 storeys with towers of 3 storeys and numerous bays:
Tudor-Gothic: large mansion house of basically 3 towers with connecting bays
and wings surrounding a courtyard. Porch-tower has Gothic arch entrance with
drip mould, large non-figurative stained glass window with squared leaded lights
and coat-of-arms at parapet level. Windows are a mixture, some mullioned and
transomed, sashes with glazing bars, diamond leaded casements and stained
glass. Arched central tunnel gives access to courtyard where there were
stables. Internal features include hall with freestone staircase of 3 flights
supported by vaulted cantilevers with carved corbels, stone balusters with
Gothic tracery and moulded stone rail: original wood panelled and plaster
ceilings to every principal room: carved stone Gothic fireplaces with
decorative tiles: dining room has Gothic carved wood sideboard and library has
carved Gothic bookcase extending the full length of wall. Built under the
supervision of James Stewart, architect of Carlisle, acting as agent, and this
has previously led to some confusion. Peter Dixon had the cotton works at
Warwick Bridge and in 1836 opened a large factory in Carlisle: house sold c1875
to William Watson whose trustees sold to Mr Liddell of Warwick Hall: he gave
the house to nuns of the Order of St Benedict in 1921.


Listing NGR: NY4717957001

Source: English Heritage

Listed building text is © Crown Copyright. Reproduced under licence: PSI Click-use licence number C2008002006.