Details
BEAMINSTER PARNHAM
ST 40 SE
12.6.53
4/125 Parnham House
GV I
Country House. Mid C16 core, with C17 north-west service wing, 1810 Nash
refashioning and extension, and later modifications. Ashlar lias stone
walls, stone slate and lead roofs. East elevation: crenellated parapet,
octagonal stone chimneys with moulded cornices, grouped in twos, with
clusters of threes by Nash at front eaves. 2 1/2 - 3 storeys, 9 - 10 bays
wide. Irregular E-plan house. South east gable projects furthest, with
6-light canted oriel to ground and first floors. 3-light attic window
over. Diagonal buttresses by Nash. South east staircase, one bay,with
2- and 3-light stone mullions, ground floor one by Nash. All hollow-
chamfered with 4-centred heads. Hall now of 3 bays, formerly 2 with 4-
light transomed mullions with a continuous string over. Stone stack, at
first floor level, inserted by Nash, gabled with 3 chimneys over. Projecting
porch at centre with 2 storey canted oriel over. Gabled with Nash pinacles.
Oriel is a 3-lighter with single-light cants. Iron casements with lead
lights and tension-bars. North east projecting staircase bay abuts porch,
one bay, also 3 storeys. Single bay with 4-light mullions. Finally,
projecting north east gable 3 1/2 storeys. 6-light stone mullions with 4-
centred heads and a single returned label. Nash pinacles to gable. South
front: modified by Nash, viz: 3-lighters cross-transomed and lowered.
Canted oriel added to bay 2. One window with 2 transoms. Nash buttresses
between each bay, and pinnacling. West front: Dining Room added by Nash
of 3 bays and 2 storeys, with cross-transomed mullions. North west service-
wing, L-shaped, 2 storeys with crenellated parapet over; refenestrated by
Nash. Interior: Great Hall, Screen of c.1600, with 3 ranges of panels
finished with a moulded and embattled cornice. Doorway has jamb-shafts
and a 4-centred head. Fireplace, C20, but incorporating C15 screen
material. East windows contain 8 mid C16 shields-of-arms. South east
staircase, early C17, rearranged enriched square newels with pierced finials,
turned balusters, and moulded handrail. Upper landing crosses full width
of stairwell. North east staircase early C18, walls lined with C17
panelling. Oak Room, lined with C16 linen-fold panelling, possibly from
West Hawsley Place. Windows have a series of 7 Dutch roundels with
heraldry and figure-subjects, mainly from mid C17. Dining Room: 4-centred
stone fireplace with strapwork over mantel and rouble-cornice. Plasterwork
in C17 style, inserted C20 by Hans Sauer. House contains much re-set
panelling and fireplaces, C17. C18 door surrounds to Drawing Room and
Library, C20 plasterwork ceilings inserted by Sauer.
Sources: R.C.H.M. Dorset I, p 21 (5) ff. R. Hine, History of Beaminster,
pp 334-347. A. Oswald Country Houses of Dorset, pp 58-60.
Listing NGR: ST4751300284
