Details
CHELTENHAM
SO9321NE LANSDOWN PARADE
630-1/16/438 (West side)
12/03/55 Nos.1-23 (Consecutive)
and attached area railings
GV II*
Terrace of 23 houses and attached railings. 1838-41. Shown as
laid out as semi-detached villas on Merrett's Map of 1834, but
as a built terrace on Johnson's Map of 1838. By RW Jearrad.
Ashlar over brick with slate roof, brick end and party-wall
stacks and iron area railings and window guards. Double depth
plan with side hall and ranges to rear.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys and basement, 2 first-floor windows each,
and with ranges to rear. The terrace has several break
forwards, including to pedimented ranges. Ashlar detailing
includes horizontal rustication to basement, voussoirs over
basement windows; otherwise windows have tooled architraves,
except to Nos 1, 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17, those to ground floor
have ears and are raised to form cambered arches; ground-floor
windows have sills on feet. Doorways have Greek Doric porches
(with architrave, frieze and cornice with guttae, blocking
course) paired to left end (Nos 1 and 2) and to Nos 4 and 5,
12 and 13, and 21 and 22, these 3 pairs of houses also have
crowning pediments; porch missing to No.8. Continuous cornice
blocking course except to pediments. 6/6 sashes where
original; to ground floor the windows with cambered arches are
tripartite, mainly 1/1 and 6/4 between 3/2 sashes (also a
12/12 sash); straight-headed tripartite window to left has 6/6
between 2/2 sash; several windows retain blind boxes. Flights
of roll-edged steps to entrances, mainly 4-panel doors (some
part-glazed) with overlights and decorative glazing. Rear
retains many 6/6 and 8/8 sashes (some of these with
margin-lights); No. 12 retains conservatory with 8/8 sashes
and margin-lights.
INTERIOR: Many retain original features, varying in the level
of embellishment; No.6 has narrow open-well staircase with
stick balusters and wreathed handrail, drawing-room has
panelled dividing doors and coved cornices with daisies. No.12
has similar staircase, drawing-room has scrolled grape frieze
and acanthus cornice, 2 marble fireplaces with carved flowers
to corners. No.8 has similar staircase and retains marble
fireplaces to drawing-room with circle motif to corners, deep
coving. No.13 has similar staircase, archway to hall on
acanthus corbel brackets, embellished cornices with
egg-and-dart motif, 2 marble Regency fireplaces with circle
motif to corners. Otherwise not inspected. Cellar storage
space reputed to continue under pavement.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: area railings to Nos 1 and 2 have stick
balusters, otherwise mainly with X-motif. Window guards to
first-floor, No 1, otherwise several to ground floor have
varied motifs.
HISTORICAL NOTE: on both Merrett's Map (1834) and Johnson's
Map (1838) the Parade is described as Lansdown Villas, Rowe's
Guide (written 1845) names it Lansdown Parade and Villas.
General Sir William Wish K G B (1787-1853) the Conqueror of
the Punjab, lived at No.14. Sir Charles Darling KGB (1809-70)
Colonial Administrator, lived at No.7.
Verey describes the Parade as `successful in an intimate way.
... Their ashlar fronts and Greek Doric porches look well with
the triangular green in front', and that 'the houses have some
nicely detailed drawing-room cornices'. Part of the former
Lansdowne Estate, a notable example of suburban town planning.
(Sampson A and Blake S: A Cheltenham Companion: Cheltenham:
1993-: 69; The Buildings of England: Verey D: Gloucestershire:
The Vale and The Forest of Dean: London: 1970-: 142; Rowe G:
Illustrated Cheltenham Guide: Cheltenham: 1850-1969: 31;
Merrett HS: Plan of the Town of Cheltenham: 1834-; Johnson:
Map of Cheltenham: 1838-).
Listing NGR: SO9384921828
