Building record 11187 - Greenbank, Eaton Road, Handbridge

<1> English Heritage, 2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, 469755; 469756; 469757 (Digital Archive). SCH4666.

Country house, now catering college. c1820, altered 1923 by Sir Charles Reilly for Peter Jones and converted to non-residential college c1980 by Cheshire County Architect's Department. Stucco, flat-roofed. EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 7 bays, almost symmetrical. Plinth; projecting portico with 2 square piers, unorthodox capitals; architrave, frieze, cornice and top-hamper. The central block has parallel-sided giant pilasters on broader projections at both ends. Replaced door of 6 fielded panels with 4-pane sidelights and basket-arched fanlight; recessed panel beneath a 12-pane recessed sash to each side of portico; 2 similar sashes to recessed left wing, lower than central block; right wing has one sash then 2-storey cylindrical bay window with 3 sashes. Double first-floor sillband; 3 recessed 12-pane sashes to first floor, with recessed panels above; entablature with dentil cornice, raised above portico; the left wing has 2 sashes, the right wing one sash in main front, then one of 12 panes, one of 15 panes and one of 12 panes in the round bay; simpler cornices to the wings. The raised sandstone pavement to right end and rear was the base for a wrought-iron verandah, removed c1980. Detailing similar to front, but with some windows altered. INTERIOR: altered: stair replaced; some 6-panel doors; 2 main rooms to rear have plaster wall panelling and moulded ceilings. (The Buildings of England: Pevsner N & Hubbard E: Cheshire: Harmondsworth: 1971-: 175).

<2> Mel Morris Conservation, 2012, Greenbank, Eaton Road, Chester Heritage Statement Historic Buildings and Site Appraisal, R3370 (Client Report). SCH6924.

A buildings survey was produced in 2012 for Greenbank, Eaton Road, and its adjacent Gatelodge in advance of proposed development. It presents a history of the development of the house and an assessment of its significance and current condition.

The earliest record of the construction of Green Bank is a legal document deposited with the deeds stating that in 1802 some land was purchased by Joseph Bozley from the Corporation of the City of Chester. This appears to have been sold by Bozley's daughter to Jon Swarbeck Rogers, a local merchant and glove manufacturer, also a Sheriff (1805-6) and Mayor (1821-2) of Chester. It then passed to his son, John Rogers, who is recorded on the Tithe Award (circa 1840) as owner of the land. The house was initially built as a traditional three storey Georgian townhouse, but by the 1820s/early 1830s, it had been dramatically altered by re-fronting in a two storey form, with Giant Order pilasters, large entablature, rebated panels with stucco festoons and rosettes. A south wing was added for large formal reception rooms and a north wing for service rooms and ancillary functions. No further building work appears to have been undertaken until the 20th century.

In 1907 the property was bought by E.Peter Jones, owner of Wolverhampton Corrugated Iron Company at Ellesmere Port. He made extensive alterations to the property over some 55 years of ownership. Many of the alterations are documented in a series of drawings designed by architect Richard Hermon Crook. This research has found no documented drawings of Green Bank relating to Professor C.H.Reilly, and it is uncertain what his involvement was with Green Bank, although given his friendship with Jones, it could be that he introduced him to other architects and suggested some of the changes. The first phase of work, undertaken in 1910, was to add a two storey circular bay window to the south-west corner of the building. In 1922-3 the northern wing was largely replaced, with exception of the east and west facades, with a new three storey block, thus extending the range of service buildings. The interior of the building was also re-modelled, including the removal of certain corridors, the 1800s Georgian staircase, the removal of a number of chimney breasts and the re-location of some doorways. A large amount of classical ornament was added to the interiors by Jones. By 1942 the Entrance Hall had also been reconfigured, the staircase extended and the interior of the Dining Room re-panelled.

In 1962 the building was left in Jones' will to Chester Corporation to be used for educational use and it remained in local authority ownership until 2011 as a teacher training establishment and then a Catering College. During this time (1962-2011), the building was altered on several occasions and numerous architectural features removed.

The building was, and still is, an imposing Georgian building. The external elevations of the building still represent largely what was built in the 1820s, a large Georgian house with bold details and modelling, a deep entablature, Giant Order pilasters and symmetrical form. Although the building has been altered, with the loss of the verandah on the east elevation, the introduction of a tall bay window and porch and the removal of many sash windows, it still retains a strong identity, form and detail from the 1820s. However the building has suffered particulary during its use as an educational establishment. The replacement of the original roof structures (a combination of pitched slate roofs and lead flat roofs) with flat roofs, covered with bitumen felt, has lead to water damage and dry rot. Also, many internal architectural details have been removed including most of the fireplaces, cornices and panelled doors. Many ceilings and windows have also been replaced.

The development of the garden is clearly evident from historical map evidence and plans. By 1873 the garden was divided into several sections and the house had a glazed verandah along the entire length of the east elevation. The land to the east of the house had a large lawn encircled by trees and a serpentine path. To the north of the lawn were a series of outbuildings, probably including stabling and a coach house. Beyond the house to the east were a series of geometric paths and formal gardens, and beyond these, a separate enclosed garden with gardener's cottage, also an orchard. To the south of the house was a large hay field, clumps of trees and a mound, potentially used as a viewing platform. On the west side of the garden a carraige drive led to the front of the house. During the re-development of the site for educational use the original outbuildings were replaced by a caretaker's cottage, later demolished. The 1982 OS map shows the formal development of the gardens into a housing cul-de-sac. A car park was also inserted on the south side of the building.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1872-1875, Metric Ten Foot Scale Town Plan of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH6780.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1896-1898, Ordnance Survey First Revision County Series (Epoch 2) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH3848.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1909-1912, Ordnance Survey Second Revision County Series (Epoch 3) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH4361.