Talk:Benjamin Bastard

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[edit] Lord Digby's School

The RCHM volume for West Dorset (1952) says "The main block was built c.1720, by one of the Bastards according to Hutchins." p217. Wonder where Pevsner got his info from? There's a load of architectural info about the house (rusticated angles blah blah blah entablatures blah blah blah bolection-moulded architraves blah blah blah etc): shall I add it? Not very good at re-wording to avoid copyvio especially as I haven't the foggiest what a lot of it means. I could just copy it all on to this page and leave one of you architectural bods to sort it out? Or doesn't it need that level of detail? Cobwall 15:15, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

If you realy don't want to add it yourself - then please leave it here with the ref so it can be cited. I'm unsure how much more indepth architectural detail need to be added, as it has to be more or less in language that a layman can understand without having to click on every other word. It is universally accepted and undisputed, today, that Benjamin Bastard designed the house. Please leave whatever you feel may be usefyl all iformation gratefully received Giano 15:58, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Okeydoke, here goes. RCHME West Dorset vol (same one as I refd on/put on the B Bastard page, ie Royal Commission on Historical Monuments England 1952 An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in Dorset Vol 1 - West London, HMSO), p217-8 "Lord Digby's School, 450 yards N.N.E. of the church, has a 16th-century N.W. wing which was altered and modernised in the 18th century. The main block was built c.1720, by one of the Bastards according to Hutchins, and is a good example of its period with paintings attributed to Thornhill. The main block has a symmetrically designed ashlar-faced front of three bays with rusticated angles, balustraded parapet and a central pediment. The ground and first floor have windows with moulded architraves, square heads and key-blocks; the second-floor windows are shorter and have segmental heads; the middle window on the first floor has no key-block but is surmounted by a cornice and pediment on brackets; the central doorway has rusticated jambs and round head; it is flanked by Doric pilasters supporting entablatures and a curved pediment. The E. and W. ends are of generally similar character to the front; the E. doorway has a bolection-moulded architrave. (you what?) Inside the building, the hall is lined with early 18th-century panelling with dado-rail and cornice; the N., E. and W. walls have central features with Doric pilasters; the other rooms have similar panelling but without the features. The staircase has turned balusters, fluted newels with the hand-rails ramped over them and cut strings with carved brackets; (this really is a foreign language) the walls are painted in chiaroscuro with female figures, urns, drapery, trophies of arms and putti attacking a boar; (When puttis go bad) at the first-floor level the N. and S. walls and ceilings are painted with figure-subjects (a) Diana with attendants, (b) Atalanta and the Calydonian boar, (c) Atalanta receiving the boar's head from Meleager. The first floor landing has an archway on the W. side with imposts and key-block; the smaller rooms on this floor are similar to those below but with simpler detail. The second floor also retains some original panelling and fireplace surrounds. The N.W. wing retains some original stone-mullioned windows and on the ground floor are some moulded ceiling-beams with bosses at the intersections, carved with roses and ribbon-work. The roof has heavy tie beams. The early 18th-century brick garden-walls have stone plints and copings on the street-front; the rusticated gate piers have moulded cappings." Phew. 81.157.196.251 16:33, 12 March 2007 (UTC) (Oh dear forgot to log in. It's me, Cobwall Cobwall 16:37, 12 March 2007 (UTC))

Yes - I rather thought it might be you Cobwall! I'll digest that and add the relevant facts - thanks. Giano 18:38, 12 March 2007 (UTC)