Listed Building record MDO11729 - Downe Hall, Bedford Place, Bridport

House set in a small park, probably built in 1789 by William Downe and extensively enlarged and altered in 1893. Grade II* Listed.

House said to have been built in 1789 by Captain William Downe. It was considerably altered in 1893 when three-storey bays were added to the east and west of the main block and the entrance moved from the south to north, the north front being remodelled at the same time. A number of other alterations were made at the same time, both internally and externally. The walls are of local stone rubble and Portland stone ashlar. (1) The south front is symmetrical with a three-storey central block flanked by low wings with connecting screen-walls. The main block is ashlar-faced with a rusticated ground floor, above which are four Ionic pilasters with a pedimented entablature containing a circular window and a balustraded parapet. The windows are plain with square heads. The semi-circular porch was added in or before 1807. The wings are of ashlar on the south, with round-headed windows and balustraded parapets on the screen walls. (1) On the other fronts, the original work of squared and coursed rubble is plain with mostly square-headed windows. (1) The 19th century additions are partly in ashlar. The north front is three bays, the centre breaks forward with curved sides and a two-storey Tuscan frontispiece on a rusticated ground floor. (1) The interior arrangement has been altered and the main stair removed. It includes some c. 1700 panelling brought from another house in 1893. In the west wing are two reset early 19th century white marble fireplaces and there is also a reset fireplace of 16th century Italian style in the former drawing room. (1) Pevsner describes the south front as having “the Palladian formula for a major town house rather than a country house, in a refined version suitable to the end of the C18. It is a design worthy of a London architect.” <2>

Record last edited

Dec 20 2022 4:52PM