Old Connaught House — Ferndale Road

Detached eleven-bay two-storey over basement country house, built 1783-4, on a rectangular plan originally nine-bay two-storey on a symmetrical plan centred on three-bay two-storey pedimented breakfront with (single-storey) prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico to ground floor; single-bay (three-bay deep) two-storey "bas-relief" recessed end bays; eleven-bay full-height rear (east) elevation. Occupied, 1911. Sold, 1946. In alternative use, 1946-72. Sold, 1972. Renovated and extended, 2000-2, to accommodate alternative use. Hipped slate roof on an elongated quadrangular plan behind parapet with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks including rendered chimney stacks on axis with ridge having cut-granite cornices below capping supporting terracotta or yellow terracotta octagonal pots, and concealed rainwater goods retaining cast-iron hoppers and downpipes. Rendered channelled walls (ground floor) on cut-granite chamfered cushion course on rendered, ruled and lined base with rendered corbelled stepped stringcourse; rendered, ruled and lined surface finish (first floor) with rusticated rendered piers to corners including rusticated rendered piers to corners (breakfront) supporting cut-granite "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed cornice on blind frieze below parapet centred on cut-granite "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed pediment. Series of three square-headed central door openings behind (single-storey) prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico on cut-granite platform with paired cut-granite columns supporting "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed cornice on blind frieze on entablature below iron-covered parapet, and rosette-detailed moulded surrounds framing glazed timber panelled double doors having overlights. Square-headed window openings (basement) with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement three-over-three timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (ground floor) with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings having bull nose-detailed reveals with "Cyma Recta"- or "Cyma Reversa"-detailed hood mouldings on fluted consoles framing replacement six-over-six timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings (first floor) with cut-granite sills, and concealed dressings framing replacement three-over-six timber sash windows. Interior including (ground floor): central hall retaining carved timber surrounds to door openings framing timber panelled doors. Set in landscaped grounds.