Denford Park, Kintbury - Hungerford Virtual Museum

DenfordPark, Kintbury. Berkshire
The South-West Chamber
The South-West Chamber (latterly known as the 'Creative Room') was originally a
larger space but its northern section has been carved off from the rest to create a small
closet or store accessed off the adjacent Lobby (see above). This seems to have
occurred by the time of the 1924 sale as the narrower space is described as a dressing
room.
The fact that the partition is inserted is quite obvious by its relatively flimsy
construction, by the fact that the reeded cornice of the main room continues
unchecked past the partition and to its original north wall, and by an obvious junction
in the present north wall of the room between the original wall adjacent to the
doorway and the partition.
The door case of the entrance off the lobby is plainer on the room side than it is to the
lobby, simply but elegantly moulded and with pedestals; it matches a second doorway
at the southern end of the east wall, formerly leading into the adjacent South Chamber
but now into a cupboard formed in the blocked off recess of the opening.
The present room is lit by a window in the south wall and one at the southern end of
the west wall. These both have full-height reveals with architraves that match those of
the two doorways. The bottom parts of the reveals have been infilled with radiator
boxes. The windows have simple panelled shutters.
The room has a tall and possibly primary moulded skirting, presumably reset along
the inserted north wall. The floorboards, however, look to be later. In the board
pattern is a trimmed hearth indicating the position of the fireplace on the east wall of
which there are no other visible indications.
The West Store
It is obvious that the West Store was created by partitioning off the northern part of
the South-West Chamber in the fairly recent past. It is an unlit space with remains of
modern shelving and sink units but retains the northern part of the original reeded
cornice of the room. Latterly a laundry, it is accessed off the adjacent lobby.
The First Floor Corridor
The First Floor Corridor is a broad axial link from the Lobby off the Main Stairs at
the western end through the whole width of the Main House, linking into the corridor
within the East Wing (Building B2). In the central section of the building the
structural spine wall is on the south side of this corridor, whilst in the eastern portion
it is on the north side. In both sections the other wall is substantially thinner and
possibly of plastered studwork.
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Richard KMorriss & Associates, Historic Buildings Consultants, Bromlaw House, Bromlaw, Shropshire, SYS OEA