Survey Data
Reg No
11903619
Rating
Regional
Categories of Special Interest
Architectural, Social
Previous Name
Powersgrove House
Original Use
Farm house
In Use As
Farm house
Date
1740 - 1780
Coordinates
275959, 195572
Date Recorded
05/11/2002
Date Updated
--/--/--
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey over basement double-pile house, c.1760, retaining early aspect with single-bay two-storey breakfront having round-headed door opening, single-bay single-storey lean-to range to side elevation to north and single-bay full-height canted projecting bay to centre rear elevation to east. Hipped double-pile (M-profile) roof with slate (lean-to to range to side; half-octagonal to projecting bay to rear). Clay ridge ties. Rendered chimney stacks. Overhanging timber eaves to block to front (west) on paired brackets. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Roughcast walls. Unpainted. Square-headed window openings (some round-headed to rear elevation to east). Stone sills. 3/6 and 6/6 timber sash windows (with fanlights to round-headed openings). Round-headed door opening. Moulded rendered coved surround. Timber pilaster doorcase. Timber panelled door. Decorative fanlight. Square-headed door opening to projecting bay to rear. Moulded rendered architrave. 6/6 timber sash window/timber panelled door. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own grounds. Gravel forecourt to front. Matures landscaped grounds to site. Rubble stone screen wall, c.1760, to south with round-headed recessed niche having cut-stone block-and-start surround. Remains of detached outbuilding, c.1760, to north comprising single-bay single-storey rubble stone gable wall with attic having trace of Diocletian window to gable. Remainder of building now demolished. Gateway, c.1760, to north-east comprising pair of cut-stone piers with red brick dressings having decorative capping, wrought iron gates and wrought iron railings to boundary walls.
Appraisal
Burtown House is a fine and well-maintained mid-Georgian farm house that, although modest in scale when viewed from the front (west), is a substantial middle size gentleman's residence of much refinement. The front (west) elevation of the house is composed as a symmetrical design of graceful Classical proportions and is centred about the decorative doorcase to centre. Spared unnecessary detailing the reserved quality of the house is compounded by the looming presence of overhanging eaves on paired brackets. The rear (east) elevation of the house is similarly massed and is centred about a prominent canted projecting bay - more finely detailed than the previous front, the Garden Front incorporates round-headed openings and a rare survival in the form of a combined window and door, which is set in a refined moulded architrave. The house retains much of its original character, features and materials, including fenestration, a slate roof and the interior retains fittings such as timber panelled shutters to the window openings. Attractively set in mature, landscaped grounds the estate is announced on the road side by an attractive gateway of cut-stone, red brick and early surviving iron work.