Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II listed building. Main construction periods 1733 to 1766 18th century house, 3 storey late English Baroque House in the `Board of Ordnance' Style.

Monument Types

• HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1733 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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Description from record TQ 76 NW 69 :
(TQ 74236834) Oriel House (NAT) (1) CATHEDRAL PRECINCTS II* Oriel House C18, 3 storeys. Brick front of 3 units with projected centre having pediment below continuous parapet, flat arches, band and stone cills (continuous across 1st floor centre unit), plinth. Central lunette over 3 lights in Venetian form. (1st floor with blank sides, ground floor with 3 lights). Ground floor has round-headed recessed opening in a square projected panel below a cornice, containing on the left hand a window and on right hand the doorway with fanlight, panelled door, Wrought Iron rails and stops. Sashes. Interesting facade. Rear of 3 storeys, 4 windows; with 1 storeyed wings of 2 windows. (2) Additional bibliography. (3) Oriel House with forecourt and garden walls attached. House. Mid-C18. Flemish bond plum coloured brick; Kent tile hipped roofs. Late English Baroque house in the `Board of Ordnance' style. Double depth plan with central open well stair. 3 storeys with basement to rear. [Full architectural description] DOWNGRADED TO GRADE II. (4)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
ROCHESTER THE PRECINCT TQ 7468 SW 9/197 Oriel House with Forecourt and Garden Walls attached 24.10.74 GV II House. Mid-C18. Flemish bond plum coloured brick; Kent tile hipped roofs. Late English Baroque house in the 'Board of Ordnance' style. Double-depth plan with central open-well stair. 3 storeys, with basement to rear. Front: almost symmetrical, 3 bays, (1:1:1), the centre bay projecting under a pediment. Tall parapet with cornice band. Centre bay with 2nd floor Diocletian window with 6-pane sash; 1st floor with a tripartite arrangement of central round-headed sash window (10 panes above, 6 below) flanked by lower flat-arched blocked windows, a variant form of Venetian window, with plaster sill band; similar windows to ground floor, but with the side windows glazed. Side bays with 9-pane and 12 pane sash windows to 2nd and 1st floor respectively; ground floor has 2 flanking brick aedicules with pilasters under 2 concentric semi-circular brick arches and moulded wooden cornices, with 15-pane sash window to left, and 6-panel fielded door under fanlight to right. Plinth and 1st floor plat bands. Thick glazing bars, hornless sashes and rubbed brick window arches throughout. Central ridge stacks, and one external lateral stack to each side elevation; cornice and plat bands return, with sash windows to each floor. Rear: 4 bays with hornless sash windows and external shutters to ground and first floor, later 2-light casements to basement; flanking the main range are 2-bay hipped roof wings (one with Welsh slates) with 12-pane sashes (one converted to a glazed foor). Rubbed brick arches throughout, with returned cornice and plat band. Interior: central staircase with turned balusters, wreathed rail; several contemporary panelled doors with furniture including H-hinges and brass locks; a few contemporary fire surrounds. 2 canted forecourt brick walls attached at front are included in this listing.
Listing NGR: TQ7423668345 (5)

<1> OS 1:2500 1970 (OS Card Reference). SKE48212.

<2> DOE(HHR)Dist of City of Rochester Kent July 1969 5 (OS Card Reference). SKE41306.

<3> Bldgs of Eng West Kent and the Weald 1980 486 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE38079.

<4> DOE(HHR)City of Rochester upon Medway, Kent. 112 (2.12.91) (OS Card Reference). SKE41287.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

Sources and further reading