Monart — BESSMOUNT

Detached three- or five-bay three-storey over part raised basement country house, begun 1733; completed 1740, on a neo-Palladian plan centred on single-bay full-height breakfront; three- or five-bay full-height rear (west) elevation; pair of single-bay single-storey "pavilions" on square plans. Occupied, 1901. Leased, 1911. Sold, 2002. Restored, 2004-6, to accommodate alternative use. Replacement pitched slate roof behind parapet with ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks having stringcourses below capping supporting terracotta tapered pots, and concealed rainwater goods retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes; pyramidal slate roofs ("pavilions"), ridge tiles, and no rainwater goods on slightly overhanging eaves. Part creeper- or ivy-covered repointed coursed rubble stone walls on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on plinth with rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners centred on rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners (breakfront) supporting lead-covered "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed cornice below lead-covered parapet; slate hung (south) or rendered (north) surface finish (side elevations). Square-headed central door opening approached by flight of seven cut-granite steps between cast-iron railings, cut-granite block-and-start surround with "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed cornice on pulvinated frieze framing timber panelled door. Square-headed flanking window openings with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite lugged surrounds framing one-over-one timber sash windows. "Venetian Window" (first floor) with cut-granite sill, and cut-granite surround with pilasters supporting archivolt centred on fluted keystone framing timber casement window having overlight with fixed-pane timber sidelights. "Diocletian Window" (top floor) with cut-granite sill, cut-granite monolithic mullions, and cut-granite archivolt centred on keystone framing timber casement window having one-over-one timber sash sidelights. Paired square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite lugged surrounds framing one-over-one timber sash windows. Square-headed central door opening to rear (west) elevation with cut-granite lugged surround. Square-headed window opening (first floor) with cut-granite sill, and rendered "bas-relief" surround framing three-over-six timber sash window having fanlight. "Diocletian Window" (top floor) with cut-granite sill, monolithic mullions, and rendered "bas-relief" surround framing three-over-six timber sash window having one-over-one sidelights. Paired square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and rendered "bas-relief" surrounds framing one-over-one (ground floor), six-over-six (first floor) or three-over-six (top floor) timber sash windows without horns. Paired square-headed window openings ("pavilions") with cut-granite sills, and cut-granite monolithic surrounds framing four-over-four timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber lugged surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers, and dentilated plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on plasterwork ceiling rose; drawing room (south) retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers, cut-veined white marble Classical-style chimneypiece, and picture railing below decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on "Acanthus"-detailed ceiling rose; library (north) retaining carved timber surround to door opening framing timber panelled door with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers, cut-black marble Classical-style chimneypiece, and picture railing below egg-and-dart-detailed decorative plasterwork cornice to ceiling centred on "bas-relief" plasterwork ceiling rose; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters on panelled risers. Set in relandscaped grounds.