Victorian Fogleigh The Architect 9 July 1881
Illustration of Fogleigh House digitalised by University of Michigan
The list of properties on English Heritage’s Listed Buildings for Box mostly focusses on historic buildings, churches, and Georgian monuments. The intention of the list is to recognise structures for their “special architectural or historic interest.” But the Victorians had different values reflecting a preferred style of architecture, often neo-Gothic. This was the case when The Architect magazine wrote about Fogleigh House as it neared completion in 1881.
This building, now approaching completion, is situated between a tributary of the River Avon and the main turnpike road from Bath to London, and is intended as a residence for Mr CJ Pictor. It contains on the ground floor dining, drawing, sitting and billiard rooms, and an ample suite of servants’ offices. There is ample cellarage under the best rooms. On the first floor are eleven bedrooms and dressing and bath rooms. The stables shown in the view are for five horses and, at the rear of the stables, is the walled kitchen-garden, in which are greenhouses, vineries, forcing-houses etc.
The whole of the external walls are built of Box ground stone, that being considered the best weather stone of all the British oolites. The roofs are covered with Welsh slates. The best rooms have borders of parquetry supplied by Messrs Arrowsmith & Co of London. The stained glass of the staircase, billiard and other windows is being supplied by Messrs Edmundson & Co of Manchester. The greenhouses, conservatory and other principal parts of the mansion are heated by hot water by Messrs Haden & Sons of Trowbridge. The builders are Messrs Hayward & Wooster of Bath and the architect Mr James Hicks of Redruth. The grounds are being picturesquely laid out and planted with choice trees and shrubs.
The whole of the external walls are built of Box ground stone, that being considered the best weather stone of all the British oolites. The roofs are covered with Welsh slates. The best rooms have borders of parquetry supplied by Messrs Arrowsmith & Co of London. The stained glass of the staircase, billiard and other windows is being supplied by Messrs Edmundson & Co of Manchester. The greenhouses, conservatory and other principal parts of the mansion are heated by hot water by Messrs Haden & Sons of Trowbridge. The builders are Messrs Hayward & Wooster of Bath and the architect Mr James Hicks of Redruth. The grounds are being picturesquely laid out and planted with choice trees and shrubs.
You can read more about the house and see the property’s rooms and facilities at the wonderful article on Fogliegh House.