Listing Text

5028
TQ 1572 17/10
2.9.52

WALDEGRAVE ROAD
Strawberry Hill
(St Mary's Training College)

I

1749-76. Built by Horace Walpole, with William Robinson and later James Essex as
executive architects, with some interiors designed by Richard Bently, John Chute,
Thomas Pitt, and Robert Adam. The chief facades are to the south and east. Stuccoed,
of 2 to 3-storeys. Extending southward to the left on the south facade are C19
additions by Lady Waldegrave, which now encase the base of the circular tower (1759),
containing kitchens and Round Room Tudor windows. Turret behind, (1777) with steep
conical roof covered by fishscale slates. To the right, a 5-bay range, 2-storeys
high, with painted 2-light windows and buttresses between (Great Cloister to ground
floor, Gallery above). Single bay to right, set back, and to right of this a triple
angled bow window, 2-storeys high, with trefoil-headed ogee windows on each facet.
(Contains Little Parlour and Blue Bed Chamber). Single bay to corner, with similar
return to east, of 3 storeys, with ogeed 2-light windows to ground, and first floors
and quatrefoils above. To the right, along the east facade, a 3-facetted bow with
ogee heads to first floor, above which a rectangular oriel with 5 painted lights,
under stepped gable. To the right, a single bay contains the Great Parlour, and above,
the Library. Square headed oriel to Parlour, ogeed cinquefoil headed window within
intersecting tracery library, flanked by quatrefoils. Battlemented parapets through-
out, with pinnacles at intervals.
Inside, many notable interiors, including: Staircase, (Bentley); Library, with Gothic
arches for bookcases; fireplace inspired by that of Edmund Crouchback in Westminster
Abbey, and elaborate ceiling (1754, Chute), Holbein Chamber, triple-arched screen,
tracered ceiling, elaborate niched fireplace, (Bentley); Gallery, fan-vaulted with
elaborate canopied (Pitt); Round Drawing Room, and Beauclerc Room (Adam); Tribune,
elaborate domed and traceried ceiling (1763 mostly Chute); Great Bedchamber (1772).

Listing NGR: TQ1581072308