Building record MDR4548 - 'New' St Helen's House, King Street, Derby

(SK 3503 3680) 'St Helen's House' appears at this location on an OS map of 1973. (1) St Helen's House has an excellent stone-faced Palladian mid-18th century front of seven bays, with a three-bay centre that has an attached giant Ionic portico above a rusticated ground floor and crowned by a pediment. In the hall there is a staircase with a fine wrought iron handrail. (2) A grade I listed town mansion, subsequently a school, and at present vacant [2007]. It was built in 1766-7, and extended c. 1807-9, 1874-8, in the 1890's and in 1914. The original mansion was by Joseph Pickford for John Gisborne. The first extension and internal remodelling was for William Strutt. There was also an extension by Thompson and Young 1874-8 for Derby School. The main mansion has a fine ashlar front, but is otherwise of red brick, with a slate roof. It is built in the Palladian style and is of three storeys. The impressive interior is on a grand scale. The entrance hall decoration includes triglyph and modillion cornice, a fireplace of Hoptonwood stone with cast-iron grate, and elaborate doorcases with panelled mahogany doors. The cross beams with plaster decoration were probably added in the late 19th/early 20th century for strengthening purposes. The cantilevered staircase in the inner staircase hall is also of Hoptonwood stone, with richly carved tread ends and fine wrought-iron balustrade, almost certainly by Benjamin Yates, successor to Robert Bakewell, and in a design produced twice by the latter. An elaborate Venetian window lights the staircase and has Gothic detailing of c. 1807. To the left of the main range, and connected by a single-storey link building (doubled in front probably in the earlier 20th century, but retaining inside the original rusticated front of 1874-8), is the extension for Derby School of 1874-8. It is built in ashlar, with the rear in brick, and in an austere classical style, the ground floor stonework being rusticated. It is of three storeys, with a six-window front at the first floor level. In addition on the left end, and giving access to the former assembly hall, is a covered external stair with decorative cast-iron detailing and balustrade. On the front and below the central first floor window is a foundation stone with inscription dated 1874, perhaps raised to its present position during construction. St Helen's House is an outstanding Palladian town mansion of 1766-7. It is the most important and largest surviving domestic building in Derby, and one of the finest purpose-built town houses to survive in this country outside London. Very significant interior features such as the staircase, plasterwork and fireplaces survive. The large extension for Derby School, by Thompson and Young of 1874-8, set-back and in simpler but similar style, was an attempt, unusual in the 1870's, to add to but not unduly challenge a building already recognised as of great importance. The occupation and ownership by the Strutt family for sixty years is a very significant historic connection with the Derwent Valley World Heritage Site. See list description for more details. (3) St Helen's House, King Street. House of c.1726, built by the Gisbourne family (reputedly designed by Joseph Pickford). Very fine house once owned by William Strutt. Classical façade in ashlar based on Italian palace frontage with central engaged portico with pediment and 4 Ionic columns, dentilled cornice and large urns terminating each corner. Rusticated basement with semi-circular arches, alternating triangular and segmental pediments over first floor windows. Side and rear elevations in brick with ashlar pilasters at each corner. (5) St Helen's House, a magnificent Palladian mansion, was built in 1766-67 by Joseph Pickford for the powerful Derby Alderman John Gisbourne. It had a stable block built round a courtyard slightly to the north. St Helen's House was a 'true' town house, built for occasional use and for entertaining. When it became a permanent residence from 1801, for William Strutt, it required a certain amount of alteration. This included a new kitchen wing and servants' hall, with staff accommodation above, to the east side of the house. The house passed to William's son Edward in 1830 although from the late 1840s he had his main residence elsewhere. In 1861 he loaned the house to Derby (Grammar) School, and in 1862 the house was purchased outright, although Edward Strutt retained what was left of the parkland. The school erected a substantial extension, accompanied by other alterations to the existing building. Further additions were made in the late 19th and early 20th century. The school moved out in 1966, following which the building had various uses and began to deteriorate, with any kind of maintenance ceasing in 1981. In 1995 the house was added to English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register. (6) Built 1766-67 for John Gisborne, alderman and the Duke of Devonshire's 'fixer' in the town. Based on the Neo-Classical Lansdowne House in London, by Robert Adam. William Strutt, son of cotton pioneer Jedediah, lived here for 30 years, and his refurbishment included some magnificent ceilings, especially the saloon, the hall and staircase, updated heating, a large lower wing and a flushing lavatory on the lines of one by John Whitehurst at Clumber Park. Derby School moved here in 1863, and at this time the chapel, gymnasium and Big School Block to the north of the house were built. (7) In December 2003 Birmingham Archaeology undertook a desk-based and historic building assessment of land in the St Helen's area of Derby city centre. A building description with photographs is provided of St Helen's House (Adult Community Education Centre). (8) St Helen's House was built in 1766-7 with extensive parkland lying to the north, now mainly built over [see SMR 32303]. It was home from 1803 of William Strutt, chairman of Derby Improvement Commissioners 1788-1829, and eldest son of cotton pioneer Jedidiah Strutt. It was used by Derby Grammar School from 1863 to 1972. (9)