Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
2588
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
24/03/1975
Date of Amendment
12/11/2002
Name of Property
High Trees
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Monmouthshire
Community
Chepstow
Town
Chepstow
Locality
Chepstow
Easting
353035
Northing
193548
Street Side
N
Location
At the top of the street and well set back up a drive in a large walled garden, the W elevation facing Vauxhall Lane.
Description
Broad Class
Commercial
Period
History
Early to mid C19 and later. First house on this site, originally the orchard of Whitehall, was built later C18. Originally called Belle View/Bellevue. Brunel stayed here when he visited the town during the construction of the tubular bridge c 1850. In 1850 the birthplace of Isambard Owen founder of the Universities of Wales, Bristol and Newcastle upon Tyne. Subsequently inhabited by James Dowie, wine merchant and later by Thomas Atkins who built the gas works. In 1889 name changed. Converted to Chepstow Boys Grammar School in 1871 and to District Council offices 1954.
Exterior
Large late Georgian gentleman's residence. Walls are rendered; hipped slate roof behind coped parapet, deep moulded eaves cornice and long narrow rendered stacks. Two storeys. Entrance frontage has a projecting 3-window range, the centre bay slightly breaking forward, of 12-pane sashes with narrow glazing bars in reveals with architraves. Central doorway with open bracketed pediment with diamond frieze, reeded architrave to round-arched doorway with fanlight with radial flazing; flight of 7 nosed stone steps. Moulded string course at first floor level. To left and set back is the return bay of the garden elevation with first floor sash and no ground floor windows. This elevation has a two storey splayed bay of similar sashes, single window range to left, the cornice curtailed, and 2-window range to right. Two-window range to uphill side.
Interior
Interior hall gives onto staircase rising parallel with entrance frontage which has splat pierced balusters and a polygonal newel. Hall and downstairs, former reception rooms now offices and Council chamber, retain decorative plasterwork especially cornices and friezes, panelled reveals and 6-panelled doors, decorative fireplaces.
Reason for designation
Listed as a larger Georgian house retaining overall character.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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