Listed Building: ASHTON HOUSE (468036)

WEYMOUTH SY6778SW WYKE ROAD 873-1/26/413 (North side) 18/06/70 No.4 Ashton House (Formerly Listed as: WYKE ROAD Nos.4 AND 6) GV II House in short row, formerly 2 dwellings. 1820-1840. Smooth rendered, slate roof. A villa in Greek Revival style, with 4-bay central block, stepped-back bay at each end, and lower range to the right; the entrance and staircase are to the right, at the junction between the two main ranges. EXTERIOR: 3 storeys and basement, but developing full 4 storeys at the rear, as the site slopes steeply away from the road. Windows mainly sashes, the central block has two 12-pane and two 4-pane to the eaves, above deep 15-pane taken to floor at first floor, and with a full-width balcony, the wrought-iron railing returned at the ends. At ground floor is one 16-pane and one plain sash, with 3-light casements to the basement, one of these enclosed in a contemporary cast-iron railing. The set-back bay to the left has plain sashes and a door. The lower range has a blind window. The bold portico, on 5 Portland stone steps with nosings, has paired fluted Doric columns in antis, and full column responds to the pair of 4-panel doors, and a full entablature, to a flat roof. The main hipped roof to deep plain eaves has a central ridge stack, and there are further stacks to the left gable end, and to the rear eaves of the low range, which has a form of parapet to the front. A high plinth, to the level of the portico steps, a first floor moulded band, plain second floor band, and moulded band to the set-backs The right gable has a low-pitched closed pediment, above two 12-pane sashes at each level, and a basement entry hatch in the deep plinth, to the right. The back includes 4 wide-spaced sashes at eaves level above two 2-storey oriels, flanked by long 24-pane staircase windows, and the lower range has a 15-pane above a blind light and a 16-pane sash. INTERIOR: partly inspected. Original 6-panel doors in moulded architraves generally remain, but fireplaces have been removed from the principal rooms. Opposite the portico is a fine full-height geometrical staircase, rising in a semicircular well with deep niches; the open strings have scrolled tread-ends, and the stick balustrade has a wreathed mahogany handrail; the second staircase was not seen. The basement has 3 wide brick-vaulted compartments on cobble floors to the front, with a transverse passage at the rear ceiled with stone carried on a series of close-set (0.15m) iron camber bars, and incorporating small set-in solid glass bullseye pavement lights, usually in groups of 3 to each 1m along the passage. The house, now in institutional use, is the most impressive of a group, comprising Nos 4 and 8-14 (qqv), built as Belfield Terrace, on the principal road from Melcombe Regis to Wyke Regis. The unusual treatment of the cellar ceiling is not explained. (RCHME: Dorset, South-East: London: 1970-: 346). Listing NGR: SY6732778421

Record last edited

Sep 28 2009 11:17AM