Listing Text

TO 3079 SW CITY OF WESTMINSTER BROAD SANCTUARY, SW1
101/13 (ABBEY PRECINCT AND
WESTMINSTER SCHOOL)
24.2.58
Little Dean's Yard:
Ashburnham House

G.V. I

Substantial town house: Commonwealth shortly before 1662; attributed to
John Webb; partial rebuild and refacing of the later C.14 Prior's Lodging
of which the masonry structure and the kitchen and hall walls are
incorporated; west wing added 1910. Red brick C.17 facing to the C.14
rubble walls, tiled hipped roof. 3 storeys. 7 windows wide grouped as 5-
window centre with 2-window projecting wings. Central square headed
doorway in plain rusticated surround with panelled door and fanlight;
semicircular arched doorway to right hand east wing. Recessed glazing bar
sashes under flat brick arches. Stone plat bands to each floor and stone
cornice below Portland stone parapet with terracotta urns. Internally the
plan is not symmetrical because of need to accommodate the medieval work
partly exposed on the west side and in kitchen; of the fine C.17 interior
the most striking feature is the staircase rising approximately on square
plan in spacious open well top lit by a large lantern and dome, very
ingeniously adapting the irregularities of the site: the closed string
stair with substantial baluster and panelled newels rises in 4 irregular
flights between landings, the upper part of panelled walls articulated by
fluted Ionic pilasters with attached Ionic columns and free standing column
at head of stairs; richly stuccoed ceiling with scrolls and flower-enriched
garland to large oval opening into lantern clerestory with 4 windows and
balustrade with dies surmounted by groups of 3 slender columns carrying
cornice with rich garland beneath shallow dome - a lantern gallery
treatment reminiscent of Francois Mansart and unique in Britain for its
date; heavily carved doorcases with segmental pediments and rich acanthus
scrolls; the main 1st floor room also has a stucco ceiling with oval
garlanded centre at right angle to the facade. For the exposed remains of
the Refectory in the garden see the Great Cloisters, Broad Sanctuary.

R.C.H.M.
London Voll, N Pevsner
Dictionary of British Architects; Howard Colvin.

Listing NGR: TQ3004679409