Castle Talbot — Blackwater

Detached five-bay three-storey country house, built 1753, on a T-shaped plan; single-bay (single-bay deep) full-height central return (north). Vacant, 1863. Occupied, 1901; 1911. Hipped slate roof on a quadrangular plan centred on hipped slate roof (north), clay ridge tiles, rendered, ruled and lined buttressed chimney stacks having cut-granite "Cavetto" capping supporting crested terracotta tapered pots, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered slate flagged eaves retaining cast-iron octagonal or ogee hoppers and downpipes. Rendered, ruled and lined wall to front (south) elevation on rendered chamfered plinth with rusticated cut-granite quoins to corners; rendered "sweeps" with ball finial-topped lichen-spotted cut-granite coping; part creeper- or ivy-covered roughcast surface finish (remainder). Round- or segmental-headed central door opening approached by flight of three cut-granite steps with cast-iron "griffin" bootscrapers, cut-granite doorcase with rusticated pilasters supporting ogee-detailed pediment on fluted dosserets framing timber panelled door having fanlight. Square-headed window openings with cut-granite sills, and inscribed surrounds centred on keystones framing six-over-six or three-over-six (top floor) timber sash windows. Square-headed door openings between statue-filled round-headed niches ("sweeps") with cut-granite lugged surrounds centred on fluted keystones framing timber boarded doors. Square-headed window openings in tripartite arrangement to rear (north) elevation with cut-granite sills, timber mullions, and concealed dressings framing six-over-six or three-over-six (top floor) timber sash windows having two-over-two or one-over-two (top floor) sidelights. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors, and plasterwork cornice to ceiling; and carved timber surrounds to door openings to remainder framing timber panelled doors with carved timber surrounds to window openings framing timber panelled shutters. Set in landscaped grounds with rendered piers to perimeter having statue-topped cut-granite capping supporting spear head-detailed wrought iron double gates.