Design No. 15 — A Small Country House
This building was intended to be only a comfortable country house for the residence of an eminent provincial solicitor. It was directed to be made of superior character, as the owner, being a person well known in the county, considered that the eyes of the whole neighbourhood would be upon it. The situation was on one of the roads leading out of Maidstone, and as the land in which it was to stand was taken on lease for 99 years, nothing beyond a superior gentlemanly character could be given to it, as it is only in freehold houses that any superior or expensive architectural adornment should be indulged in. The Roman or Italian style, as being the most appropriate and the one best understood by builders, was adopted.
The front of the house had no prospect, the side of the road opposite to it showing only a high bank with boulders of ragstone, peculiar to the county of Kent; and for this reason none of the principal windows looked towards it. The back-front and side, however, turned towards the hills between Maidstone and Rochester. Very precise directions were given as to the arrangement, size, height, and number of the rooms. The study, c, was to be on the left of the entrance-hall, and its size 16 feet by 12 feet. It was made 16 feet square. The drawing-room, d, having the chief prospect, was to be the principal room. This was made 20 feet by 17 feet. The dining-room, e, was 20 feet by 16 feet; both rooms looked into conservatories, i i. The back front faced the north—a very favourite aspect for the principal rooms with many of the noblemen and gentlemen of Kent; the reason being that the flowers in the gardens under the windows, turning towards the sun, present a cheerful and agreeable appearance to the occupants of the rooms.
The dining-room had steps leading down to the garden; the kitchen b, scullery g, and small larder h, were on the right of the entrance, the kitchen and the study having small windows by the side of the entrance, so that all visitors coming to the house might be seen. The servants’ door was in the small yard by the side of kitchen, with a place for coals; o is a small chaise-house, and p a stable for a pony; l is the dust-hole.
The upper floor had to contain five best bedrooms; these can be seen in the plan. Their sizes were 17 feet by 12 feet, and 16 feet by 10 feet. There were three dressing-rooms, the largest 12 feet by 10, the two smaller each 12 feet 6 inches by 6 feet. The second floor contained two rooms for servants, one 16 feet by 10 feet, the other 12 feet by 10 feet. The basement had a footman’s pantry, 12 feet by 9 feet 6 inches, and a dairy of the same size. This had steps down to it in the area. There was a wet larder with a window, a wine cellar, and a beer cellar.
The interior was plainly finished, with nothing beyond the best modern enrichments. The whole of the interior had Keen’s cement skirtings. The staircase had a skirting flush with the wall, so as not to take away space from the stairs; this is shown at page 178. There were ornamental roses in the centre of the ceilings of the principal rooms. The section of the interior is made through the principal entrance, across the staircase and dining-room; and in the upper floor, through two of the dressing-rooms.
The only architectural feature in the front of any importance was the portico (see page 180). A bold and prominent effect was given to it. The estimated expense of the building was 2151l., full price put down as 2250l.
The vignette is an elevation of an Elizabethan balustrade, in stone, intended to crown a cornice, and to be placed in an elevated position against the sky line.