Listed Building: THE KNOLE (NOW FREEMASON'S HALL) (101783)

1. 5186 KNOLE ROAD (West Side) The Knole (now Freenmason's Hall) SZ 1091 22/215 II 2. 1872-3, J D Sedding for Edmund Christy (founder of St Clement's). Much altered since 1950, but still impressive mansion of the earliest Arts and Crafts period, influenced by William Morris. Tudor Gothic, red brick and stone dressings, tiled roofs with ornamental ridges, 2 storeys and high basement, L-shaped. Long symmetrical south front to garden terrace, with central 3-storey gatehouse-type tower: stone polygonal corner buttresses, 4-centred door with coat-of-arms in sculptured panelling over, mullioned windows to upper floors. 2-storey canted bay on each side with mullioned and transomed windows and stone inscription giving date 1873, under deep stone-coped parapet. West flank asymmetrical: big rectangular bay at north-west, with 2 transoms and hipped roofs, supports canted dormer, with 2 transoms, plaster gable and sunflower metal finial. South-west gable altered, with tilehanging recessed behind parapet, intricate 3-light Tudor-arched window and projecting chimneybreast at 1st floor level (chimneystack gone). Entrance side L-shaped, with approach up steps to terrace alongside east wing - reconstructed with flat roof 1958. North wing of interesting composition has 4-centred doorway in surround of small Tudor-arched lights (similar lights to strip window under eaves); door itself with incised patterns and studs. Adjoining wall windowless, with inset stone sculptured panel of St Hubert's Dream in Gothic frame, battlemented gable at 1st floor level with large merlons of smooth stone, then recessed tilehung gable to 2nd floor with projecting canted bell-canopy on brackets, topped by sunflower finial on leaded base. Recessed northern wing with gabled stone dormer over lean-to single-storey annexe with brick chimneystack at end - much bare brickwork. (Flat-roofed modern extension). Forecourt has clipped yew hedge on 2 sides over low brick coped wall. Interior much altered, agent from linenfold-panelled doors and Jacobean-style balustered staircase. 2 fine rooms survive : at south-west corner, dining room with linenfold panellings, plaster foliage frieze and Elizabethan-style plaster ceiling, chimneypiece with blue daisy tiles in pink marble surround under white marble 4-centred arch with carved frieze between fluted wood pilasters and cornice, supporting overmantel of mirrors in 3 Jacobean-style arches under plaster tester with 3 rows of sunflowers. Reception room at north-west corner, of Great Hall type, has elaborate Elizabethan-style plaster ceiling with pendants, over foliage frieze, similar ceiling and frieze in windowless recess opposite square oriel. French C16 style of chimneypiece with Renaissance type round arch (blue tiles within) and hooded open grate, overmantel with flowers in vase motif in tiers, under frieze with pilasters. Listing NGR: SZ1064391814

Record last edited

May 14 2020 10:52AM