Built / Designed For: James Templer

House & Family History: Stover House was built in the late 18th century and was very likely designed by James Templer, who built the House for himself. Templer made a fortune putting up government buildings in Plymouth and India in partnership with Henry Line and Thomas Parlby. Stover is a severe Palladian style villa of granite ashlar over a rusticated basement. It has a canted center front-to-back, with an early 19th century portico of six Greek Doric columns (possibly reused). The interiors are in the restrained Neoclassical style of the Adam brothers. In 1829 the profligate George Templer was forced by debt to sell the Estate to the 11th Duke of Somerset. Stover House has been home to Stover School since 1932.

Garden & Outbuildings: The grounds contain the courtyard-style Stables; the Ice House; the Greek Doric Entrances Gates and Lodges; a pedimented Temple with two Ionic columns in antis; the large Grotto, made of ashlar with a rubble barrel vault and containing doorways and circular and rectangular windows framed in giant arches.

House Listed: Grade II*

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: James Templer, 18th century; Templer family from 1780 until 1829. Edward Adolphus St. Maur, 11th Duke of Somerset, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: School

Primary Current Ownership Use: School

Ownership Details: Today Stover School

House Open to Public: No

Phone: 01626-354-505

Fax: 01626-361-475

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.stover.co.uk

Historic Houses Member: No