Rodbourne House, St. Paul Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 (Grade II)

ST 98 SW ST PAUL MALMESBURY THE STREET, Rodbourne WITHOUT (north side)

8/170 Rodbourne House

Detached house. Probable late C17-early C18 core with extensive 1859 additions and alterations (datestone on north-east tower) carried out for Sir Hungerford Pollen. Squared and coursed rubble with brick and stone dressings, ashlar copings and concrete tile gabled roofs with tall triple stacks of brick and stone laid in bands. Irregular plan with core ranges facing south and south- west, C19 additions to north and north-east. North front of 2 elements: 4-storey tower with pyramidal roof to left of 3-storey Cl9 section and earlier 2-storey and attic block to right with advanced canted front. C19 section has ovolo-moulded cross-mullion fenestration with tall 9-light windows to right of tower. Earlier section to right has a 3-light French window to ground floor, a 16- pane sash above and 2 gabled dormers; rusticated stone quoins. Doorway to right of C19 section with part-glazed door. Interior: inaccessible on resurvey but reputed to have a fine Arts and Crafts staircase. The Hungerford Pollens were close associates of the Pre-Raphaelites and the novelist William Thackeray is said to have stopped here.