Listed Building: HIGHFIELD HOUSE, HIGHFIELD GARDENS (1391228)

House. 1827 with later alterations. By Richard Leaper for Rev. Edward Unwin, Rector of St.Werburgh's, Derby. MATERIALS: Ashlar faced to south and east front, otherwise whitewashed brick. C20 concrete-tile hipped roof with stone ridge and brick rear stacks. Rectangular plan with slightly lower rear wing. EXTERIOR: Austere late Classical style with mainly 6/6 sashes with unusual surviving jalousies (shutter frames and shutters). East front is a complete 4-window range on both floors of these. South, entrance, front is a 3-window range at first floor again complete, but over square stone bays with 1/1 sashes and a central open Doric porch which has been glazed-in in the late C19 and which also has a glazed projecting canopy with curving roof supported on decorative cast-iron brackets. The west, garden, front has a canted bay with sashes and a pentice roof, a part-glazed door and other mainly 6/6 sashes. The rear to the yard has a large 8/8 staircase sash, other sashes and windows and a door within recess. Extending from the north-east corner is a high brick wall with stone capping punctuated by a pedestrian entrance and a carriage gateway with large piers. The wall then encloses the north side of the yard and here it has an ashlar base. INTERIOR. The part-glazed front door has decorative engraved-glass panels and similar overlight. The hall has a rich modillion cornice and ceiling rose. Six-panel doors, moulded architraves here and elsewhere in the house with most rooms having simple fireplaces, skirtings, dado rails and cornices, etc. The staircase hall has a dogleg stair with cast-iron balustrade of alternate stick balusters and moulded ones with foliage and central open diamonds. Mahogany wreathed handrail which curves on the landing. The dining room has mid/late C19 decorative frieze, cornice and ceiling panels and a mid C19 marble fireplace, brought in. The drawing room has a similar marble fireplace, also brought in, and a rich modillion cornice. The kitchen has an unusual tiled wall of the early 1970's, painted with an extensive vine. HISTORY: Richard Leaper (1759-1838) was a Derby tanner, Alderman and amateur architect and served as Mayor of Derby in 1794, 1807, 1815 and 1824. He designed various villas in the area for Rev. Edward Unwin, Rector of St. Werburgh's, Derby. The sliding jalousies were originally of cast iron but have been carefully renewed in wood. The wooden replacements follow the cast iron pattern by Wheaterhead, Glover and Co., of the Brittania Foundry, Duke Street, Derby. The architect often incorporated jalousies by this firm. Highfield House is a fine villa of the period with many surviving internal features. REASONS FOR DESIGNATION DECISION: Highfield House is a fine Regency villa which was first listed in 2005. * Highfield House is a fine Regency Villa of 1827 * The house has many surviving interior features * The architect is of great local interest sufficient to add interest to the building SOURCES. Glover, S., History and Gazetteer of Derbyshire, 2 Vols. (2nd Edn. Derby 1831-3) II, p 604. Colvin, H., Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 3rd Edn. 1995, p 604-5. Craven, M., The Derby Town House , 1987, p 108-9.