Listed Building record MDR5463 - Locko Park, Locko Park, Dale Abbey

Locko Park, Locko Park, Dale Abbey, originally built in 1669. 'Locko Park. Country house. 1669, c1725-30 attributed to Francis Smith of Warwick, mid 18th cent, late 18th cent, 1804, Italianate style additions of 1853-6 and 1861-4, both by Henry Stevens of Derby, and 1896. Grade II*.' (1) 'Large stone mansion approached from the south by a pair of pretty 18th century lodges. The mansion is nine bays wide, three storeys high, with emphasis on the rusticated giant pilasters at the angles and at the angles of the five-bay centre. At either end, one-storey projecting wings, that on the west side older than the main house and containing the chapel, built in 1669. The chapel was refurbished in 1882 and again in 1899. It contains an unusual 17th century wooden font. The east wing was probably added in the interest of Palladian symmetry after William Drury-Lowe bought the estate in 1747. Large additions to the house were made in a restrained Italianate style by Henry Stevens of Derby, starting with the bell-tower in 1853-6, and following on the east side in 1861-4 with a new entrance porch, hall and dining room. The east front was extended in 1896 by a billiards room. At Locko in the Middle Ages (c. 1297-1347) was the only preceptory of the Lazarite order in England.' (2) 'Locko Park (listed grade II*) probably originated in the late 17th century. A sketch on an estate map of 1716 shows a gabled H- or U-plan house with a chapel attached on the south-west side. It was remodelled c. 1725-30, possibly by Francis Smith of Warwick, and a major campaign of alterations took place in the mid-19th century to the designs of Henry Stevens of Derby. The chapel is dated 1669 and was perhaps the only part of the building left untouched by Smith. The house is ranged around a central courtyard and the main entrance on the east side. It is in use as a private residence [in 1998].' (3) From the National Heritage List for England: 'PARISH OF DALE ABBEY LOCKO ROAD SK 43 NW 5/17 (North Side) 2.9.52 Locko Park GV II* Country house. 1669, c1725-30 attributed to Francis Smith of Warwick, mid-C18, late C18, 1804, Italianate style additions of 1853-6 and 1861-4, both by Henry Stevens of Derby, and 1896. Ashlar and rendered brick. Hipped Welsh slate roofs behind solid and balustraded parapets. Various ashlar ridge and lateral stacks. One, two and three storeys. Four ranges around a courtyard. South elevation has a three storey main block of c1725-30. Divided into 2-5-2 bays by giant rusticated pilasters. Moulded plinth, moulded eaves cornice and balustraded parapets with urns. Central Tuscan Doric porch. Doorway with moulded surround and C19 half-glazed doors. Flanked on each side by four glazing bar sashes in moulded, keyed, architraves. Nine similar windows above and above again. The chapel of 1669 projects to the left. It has two keyed round-arched windows to south and one to east. Horizontal hoodmoulds linked to the keystones. Solid parapet inscribed in bold lettering in Latin, 'My house shall be called the house of prayer'. Matching projecting wing to the right of the main block, probably mid-C18. Similar round-arched window to the west, but to the south are two glazing bar sashes in keyed moulded architraves. Parapet with latin inscription. Irregular west elevation. Shallow gabled end elevation of chapel to right. Tall ashlar doorcase with a segmental pediment similar to the County Hall, Derby of c1660 and hence possibly by the Surveyor, George Eaton. The parapet has a gothic arch in the centre to form a bell-cote. Three bays to the left have early C19 sashes, a doorway and two large tripartite sashes. Projecting wing to left of 2-6-2 bays, two storeys, with glazing bar sashes. Parapets with inscriptions and dates 1804 and 1896. Rising from the centre of the west elevation is a tall Italianate tower of 1853. This has various stringcourses and to the top stage tripartite groups of round-arched windows to each face. Balustraded parapet and angle piers. Irregular east elevation. To the left is a large Italianate porch of 1861-4 with sculptures of birds with outstretched wings at the corners. Three bays to the right with single bar sashes set in large segmental pedimented architraves. Balustraded parapet. Three bays to the right again wtih mullioned windows. Taller four bay wing to the right again, of 1896. Segment headed windows to the ground floor, flat arched above. Courtyard elevations are of stone and red brick. Mostly with mullioned windows to the ground floor and C19 sashes above. Interior: Entrance Hall has a painted ceiling by the brothers Andreotti of Florence. Top-lit picture gallery with dado, dentil cornice and painted ceiling by A Romoli. Drawing room with rich late C19 chimneypiece, gilded cornice and trompe l'oeil painted ceiling by A Romoli. Doorcases with fluted surrounds. Dining room with coved and carved ceiling and cornice painted by Romoli. C18 chimneypiece. Cantilevered open string staircase of c1725 (probably altered in the C19). Carved tread ends and three balusters per tread, two turned and one twisted. The old hall has a monumental chimneypiece with a Gibbs-type surround of alternating projecting blocks. Panelled dado and doorcase with carved friezes. Boudoir has early C19 panelling painted in the early C20 by Cavalieri G Bacci VeJliti and P F Santini. Painted ceiling. The library has a segmental arch and bookcases with fluted friezes. The chapel retains its C17 coffered wooden ceiling. Pulpit of 1669. C17 wooden baluster font. Schnetzler chamber organ of 1779. The chapel was refurbished in 1882 by F J Robinson and again in 1899. The remaining fittings are C19. Three stained glass windows of 1900 by Powells. The billiards room has a large marble chimneypiece and a ceiling painted by G Bacci Veneti and P F Santini. The first floor landing and several bedrooms have C18 raised and fielded panelling and bolection moulded chimneypieces. Listing NGR: SK4096738648.' (4)