Building record 0446500000 - WEST WYCOMBE HOUSE

Plan Form - Rectangular.
Grade I. Later C17 or early C18 structure remodelled circa 1735-65 for Sir Francis Dashwood Bart, Lord Le Despencer (1708-81). Stone and stucco house of rectangular plan with long sides facing north and south. North front in Palladian manner with projecting central pediment on 4 engaged Roman Ionic columns. East elevation tetrastyle Doric portico with frescoes (in course of restoration), to tympanum and to external wall of house, shown in engraving of 1757. South front by John Donovell circa 1760 (perhaps based on Palladio's Palazzo Chiericati at Vicenza) has double, superimposed colonnade, Tuscan on ground floor, Corinthian to 1st floor, with central projecting pediment; frescoes on ground floor ceiling and east end wall. West front has Greek Ionic hexastyle portico (based on the Temple of Teosiin Greece) with coffered and frescoed soffit. Designed circa 1765 by Robert Adam and carried out with modifications by Nicholas Revett. Interior has ground floor ceilings printed by Borgnis, either Giuseppe or his son Giovanni. Carved marble chimneypieces, - in State Drawing Room by Henry Cheere, in Dining Room by Thomas Carter. Staircase wall paintings after Raphael's Vatican Loggie. See Country Life, 1 and 8.1.1916 alma 6 and 13.5.1933 (B9).
During World War II it had been intended to store part of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection in the house and outbuildings, but the offer was withdrawn in August 1939. In 1941 part of the Wallace Collection was moved here from Ball Park in Hertfordshire. Staff from the National Trust HQ were based in the house and staff from an evacuated maternity hospital were also billeted at the house (B29).



(SU 82939431) West Wycombe House (NAT) (B30)

West Wycombe House circa 1710-1780 (See attached pamphlet) (B11).

West Wycombe House. As described (B31).

Country House built between 1667 and 1732, rectangular in plan with long sides facing north-south and constructed in stone and stucco. The house was extensively remodelled between 1735 and 1765 under the direction of Sir Francis Dashwood (1708-81) who was created Lord Le Despencer in 1763. By 1750 the north front had been remodelled to a design by Servandoni which was executed by John Donowell. The East portico, done in 1754-55, is also attributed to Servandoni, and the south front, c.1755, to Donowell. The west portico was remodelled in 1770-71 by Nicholas Revett.

The 18th-century landscape Park at West Wycombe (NMR no.SU 89 SW 23) also contains numerous associated Lodges and Temples. The estate was surveyed in 2000-2001 by English Heritage and a full survey archive is available in the NMR. (B12 and B13)


NRHE Insert 1998, Update 2001, 2005 (B33).