Sites and Monument Record: Denovan House (SMR 417)

Description
2-storey and basement villa, with complex building sequence, largely of mid 19th century appearance, but incorporating periods of earlier and later work. Circa mid-later 18th century Georgian villa possibly of 2 different dates at cor. It was substantially recast in 1843-45 for JG Adam in the manner of Burn and Bryce (Jacobethan style), with entirely new S front and partial interior remodelling. A list of the principal rooms at this time can be seen under documentation. Large 1911 additions to rear. (N) 1840s elevations: cream polished ashlar with channelled rustication at ground floor, long and short rusticated quoins, plinth and basecourse, cornice between ground and 1st floors; plain frieze swept to dentilled cornice, with vigorously moulded consoles in frieze above windows, advanced bays pedimented or with blocking courses, plain parapet elsewhere; side (E and W) elevations of 1840s period of finely-tooled squared sandstone with ashlar dressings. Architraved single and tripartite windows; projecting window bays with openwork strapwork parapets. Timber sash and case windows, each sash in 1840s windows divided horizontally into 2 panes. Shallow-pitched slated roofs; grouped, square-shafted ashlar stacks. S (entrance) elevation: 3 bay full-height pedimented projecting bay to left with entrance porch; advanced full-height rectangular bay to right. Porch with lugged and curved 'baroque' style architraved doorpiece, moulded keystone and openwork parapet; ashlar seat within porch to left. Georgian elevations visible only to left of side (W) elevation and to right of rear (N) elevation; large harled additions of 1911 period mask rear elevation to left. Conservatory: to right of S front, attached to E gable. Circa later 19th century, built over site of side wing: timber and cast-iron with mullioned windows with leaded upper lights. Pitched roof with pitched-roofed clerestory with cast-iron cresting at ridge; apex finial to SW gable. Interior: 3 unaltered prinicpal rooms at ground floor: to E a drawing room with Caroline-style interior, including moulded door architraves with curved and corniced Caroline-style over-doors, doors and cupboard doors panelled below, glazed over dado in geometrical designs; baroque marble chimneypiece with ionic fluted column stiles with canted volutes, pulvinated frize, dentilled and corniced entablature, and relief carvings to slip, central tablet with high-relief mask carving, floral swags flanking, original brass of grate and gilt rococco mirror overmantel (painted);cornice and gilt plasterwork border to ceiling; 4 original pendant lights; 19th century curtains with pelmets. to W, billiard wand dining rooms, both with very elaborate Jacobethan-style interior schemes, remodelled during 1840s period. Dining room: very elaborate Jacobethan strapwork cornice and vigorously moulded plasterwork ceiling; chimneypiece circa 1800, recast in 1840's with large consoles and mouldings in Jacobethan manner, original circa 1800 brass grate; 19th century curtains with pelmets; black and gold paint scheme. Billiard Room: similar to dining room, with strapwork plasterwork cornice; some alterations. Stair Hall: remodelled in 1840's: half-height wainscot, panelled 2-leaf doors, architraves and Caroline-style overdoors; Jacobethan-style plasterwork ceiling. Timber staircase with 6-light stained glass windows at half-landing. Chimneypiece removed to steading (1992). Large cast-iron safe in (modernised) kitchen adjacent too dining room. First floor bedrooms simpler, proportions and joinery revealing 2 different periods: circa 1840's remodelling largely at W rooms, with floor stepping down and ceiling-heights reduced in Georgian rooms to E. Georgian kitchen in basement to E, and ex situ pieces of Georgian grates. Gatepiers: pair short cream polished ashlar piers of 1843-45 period on entrance to house, square-plan with arched recessed planes to each elevation, arches with keyblocks at apices, and rounded corniced caps.
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