| Summary : Country house, rebuilt after the fire of 1850 for William Crawshay, a Welsh iron master, who had bought the estate in 1838. The three storey house is built of stone around an iron frame. There are Ionic colonnades to each side, built in 1840, prior to the fire, with an orangery to the west. Extensions include a chapel on the east and a linked lodge to the north west, added in 1890. The house was damaged by fire in 1926 but restored. Formerly a school, it now houses the BBC World Monitoring Station and Radio Berkshire. |
More information : Rebuilt, possibly by J T Crews, after the fire of 1850 for William Crawshay, a Welsh iron master, who had bought the estate in 1838. Of the early 18th century house of the Earl of Cadogan nothing remains, and very little retains of the works by Mr Acres and Capability Brown in the Park. Three storeys and basement. Ashlar with iron frame. Ground floor rusticated with Doric frieze over. Piano nobile above. Seven bays, outer wider with tripartite windows, divided by engaged Composite columns (end piers). Dentil cornice, balustraded parapet. Glazing bar sash windows with raised surrounds and bracket cills, pedimented on piano nobile (alternately triangular and segmental). Flanking set back Ionic colonnades of 1840 by J T Crews. Nine bays each with balustrade over, returned to east, orangery to west. Various extensions to east (including chapel) and west (former school rooms etc) and also to north-west which has a classical Doric portico to linked lodge dated 1890. To rear of main house is an Ionic Porte Cochere (now a reception room). Interior retains considerable decoration of the post-1850 house. Large central hall with two balustraded galleries, Doric on ground floor, Ionic on 1st floor. The best room is behind Crews West colonnade - arcaded with columned screen to west and apse colonnade to east. Elaborate decoration in the principal drawing room with enriched doorpieces and so on. Chapel altered. A landmark for the railway. Grade 2. (1)
Information received from public feedback cites that the architect of Caversham Park was Sir Horace Jones (1819-1887). (2) |