Exterior
The house is built of Pennant sandstone rubble masonry with Bath freestone dressings, the later work uses thinly coursed and part snecked rubble, parts are ashlar faced like the top of the tower, parts are rendered like the first floor of the north wing (following the fire of 1939). Welsh slate roofs throughout, except for the flat roofs of the bay windows, porte-cochere etc. which are presumably leaded.
The original and quite small house of 1855 is best seen from the south, being the two gables with the entrance bay between at the west end, which are centred on the stairs down to the parterre. This was a symmetrical Tudorbethan style house, which was extended to the present, much larger and consciously asymmetrical composition which is in a freer Gothic style and includes a tall medievalist embattled tower. The house was enlarged to almost its present size in the 1873-8 work (see 1st edition OS map) and comprises a long garden front to the south and an L-shaped main entrance front formed by the addition of a service wing on the north, the latter was considerably enlarged in 1898 and 1906-9 (see 2nd ed. OS map). Two storeys and attics, part three storeys, the tower has an additional storey above the roof ridge, the fifth storey now replaced by an open terrace.
The main north front is distinctive for its tall gables and for its deeply crenellated and machicolated tower with arrowslits and corner tourelles. The original steep roof and the smoking room were removed in 1906 and replaced by the present ashlar embattled parapet. The original smoking room had all round windows for the splendid views at what is now battlement level. The current arrangement has only an open terrace for the views and a window on the fourth floor looking north. Porte-cochere to the right (added 1909) to acutely pointed main entrance arch ''carried'' by medieval-style figures and with traceried animals carved to ends; also over right hand splayed bays which have stepped central windows and the lancet windows to ground floor of left hand bay continue into an arcaded passage to service wing; this formerly had a lean-to canopy (stone corbels retained). To the right again an elaborate canted 2-storey bay window.
The north wing has three bays looking onto the courtyard, with a paired window, a 4-light window and a quatrefoil on the ground floor. The first floor, now rendered, was once more elaborate with three gables, and decorative timber-framing, all shown in a photograph of 1894. Only the left-hand gable with the oriel window survives. These changes are an ''austerity'' rebuild after the fire of 1939 (see History). ''Early Pointed'' bow window near polygonal left end which has flamboyant, Continental style, late-Gothic tracery, the upper windows of which are behind multi-cusped segmental arches and those below have a frieze of carved animals; leaded casements. At the corner is a two-storey round tower with quatrefoil band and conical roof topped by a cross; grand spiral staircase at far end of later service wing lightwell. These were both additions of 1898 to the existing north wing. The south end included a conservatory with pyramidal lantern. Tall multi-flued stacks on all roofs. To the rear of the north wing is the large gabled service wing in similar but plainer character added in 1906-9. This faces east.
The garden front has 3 + 1 + 5 bays with pierced parapets, splayed bay windows with panelled bands; gables and dormers above, mostly cross-frame windows with plate glass sashes. The centre bay of the original block at left has a 4-light, transomed staircase window over a porch onto terraced gardens. The bay to the right of this symmetrical section includes a quatrefoil window lighting the chapel in the gable over the 2-storey bay. Damaged ironwork verandah at north end with roof missing.
Three-storey, five-gabled east elevation. This has a large 4-light single storey square bay with pierced quatrefoil parapet; this is probably original to 1855 and shows the Tudor character of the first house. All the canted bay windows to the original house were added in the 1878 building programme, the map of 1869 shows square bays. All the gables are coped and have ball finials, tall multi-flued stacks.