Harleyford Manor, Hurley

Image: © Stephen Richards Taken: Unknown

The eminent Georgian architect Robert Taylor built a series of villas in which he experimented by mixing up the shapes of the rooms (as well as the interior decoration), manifested externally by square projections, canted projections (both seen here) and bowed projections (facing the river). Harleyford was the first in the series, built 1755 for Sir William Clayton. The roofline is embellished by ball finials and Taylor has used his favoured distinctive octagonal window panes. A most elegant composition. Grade I listed. The house was comprehensively restored in the 1980s, although Pevsner comments that "much of the delicacy of detail was removed" during this process. The house is still privately owned, but appears to function as the centre of a type of resort offering holiday accommodation, yacht moorings, golf, as well as a conference venue. The date of the photo is uncertain. Another in Taylor's series: Image

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